Books I've Read this week - 12/29/2018

I re-activated my Kindle Unlimited subscription back in July and since then, I have been FLYING through the offerings listed. Seriously, if you haven't looked into the program for a while, you really need to. A few years ago, it was a mundane service that offered titles few would look at. Fast forward to now and you have a wealth of new and established authors featuring works sure to bring you enjoyment and no small amount of cheer. At only $10 a month, it's a deal that has literally saved me hundreds of dollars - and introduced me to authors and genres I would never have known otherwise.

With that in mind, here are

The Books I have been Reading This Week

Hungry for Her Wolves by Tara West
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Amara is a Vet Tech working and living in Alaska... she is also a Lone Wolf who truly believes she is the only one of her kind. Having been raised by humans, she has had a rough upbringing that has led her to strike out on her own, unknowing of her heritage or the history she has missed out on. That all changes when Luc, one of her fated mates, catches her scent on the wind - and travels over 400 miles to track her down. When they come face to face, Amara's life will never be the same.


While I enjoyed this book overall, I had a hard time really relating to Amara, the MC. She’s sweet... but she’s a crier, and though she has reason to cry sometimes, there were a few points where I thought fury or a snap back would be better. But, I did gain my new favorite phrase - mantrum. A male temper tantrum.... I’m going to use it EVERYWHERE now. 😂😂

Please note, this would be considered a Fast-Burn RH (Reverse Harem) Novel with intense sexual scenes meant for a more mature audience.

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Kingdom of Dust by Joelle Greene
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amara has always believed herself to be a typical and perfectly normal human, even though she rubs elbows with the Supernatural everyday. That belief is challenged when she runs into a Fairy who tries to convince her that she is far from Human, and far from normal. Soon, Amara finds herself literally falling into another world - one where she finds her Fae bloodline, and a Kingdom in need of The Necromancer to save it.


The concept of this book is spot on, but the execution was a bit off. The second half smooths out and gets better, but the first half is a touch muddled and seems to skip from scene to scene with little transition or real detail. There were also a few sentence errors that jarred me, mainly because of a missed word or syntax.

Please note, this would be considered a Fast-Burn RH (Reverse Harem) Novel with intense sexual scenes meant for a more mature audience.

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Accacia: The complete reverse harem trilogy by Bea Paige
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Long ago, an Evil Queen cast a Spell that cursed the people of her land. These people, divided into 5 clans, each hold special powers and unique talents - abilities that have now been stripped or cursed into horrible mockeries of what they once were. In order to break the curse, the 5 Sisters of Hex must find their trios of fated mates then work together to restore the lands. This first trilogy focuses on Accacia's story, though you see glimpses of Clover (another Sister of Hex) later on.


I rather liked this series, but I am not sure I will read the other ones - at least not quite yet. Lost children of prophecy, a dying world, a wicked Queen, fated loves.. it has all the elements of a typical, yet decent, PNR RH series, along with well edited writing that pulls you in without bogging you down with too much detail. There were a few scenes that lost me, especially in Book 2, but overall this was an enjoyable series that kept me turning pages. I will visit the other Sisters of Hex in the near future.

Please note, this would be considered a Medium-Burn RH (Reverse Harem) Novel with intense sexual scenes meant for a more mature audience.

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Bound Spirit by H.A. Wills
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

17 year old Callie has been through hell.... and lived to tell the tale, again and again... and again. When her father is convicted of attempted kidnapping and sent to prison, it feels that her torture may finally be over, and that life can truly begin - but nothing in her life has been easy, and starting over will be no different. Sent to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere with an Aunt she has never met before, Callie is soon thrust into a Supernatural world that somehow feels natural, if dangerous. Her new friends have talents all their own, along with abilities that mesh and meld with hers in ways that slowly reveal just who she is - and why her Father literally tortured her for years.


This has to be one of my favorite books so far this year - or at least his month. It's heartbreaking, well written and almost melodic in places. Callie is a tortured soul, and the friends she finds in her new town have demons of their own... some quite literally.

I felt echoes of The Veil Diaries here, but in a good way. That said, it stands on its own - and stands apart by being a completely supernatural tale. Can’t wait to read book 2, which comes out towards the end of January, 2019.

This is a very slow-burn YA/NA RH series.

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Alpha Wolf: A Paranormal Shifter Romance by Emma Dean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Amelia brings home Cia for a one-night stand, she is already breaking one of her cardinal dating rules. Those rules, which have served to protect her heart for the last five years, are soon tested and broken one by one when the amazing one-night stand bleeds into a tentative relationship that threatens Amelia's carefully crafted single status. Oh... and Cia just happens to be a werewolf. =)


This was like one of those cute, wholesome romance novels you read for a heartfelt smile - but with werewolves. Soft, not too much angst, a MC that had to work through some things and a guy that helped her do it. Sweet.

This is a PNR (Paranormal Romance) filled with shifters, insta-love and fated mates. 

More Reasons to Read Aloud to Your Kids

Image - Public Domain - Wikimedia Commons

Parents, caretakers and educators have long known that reading aloud to children increases bonding, encourages brain growth, strengthens vocabulary and a helps foster a curiosity for the world around them. We all know that reading to our kids is important - here are just a few reasons why:

Increases Vocabulary

Dominic Massaro, a professor emeritus in psychology at the University of California recently conducted research that shows reading to kids, even more than talking, increases their vocabulary. While talking to your kids is a great tool for building language and love, reading to them exposes them to a greater variety of words - those often found outside the normal 5,000 common English words.

Increases Attention Span

While watching TV may be a time honored 'relaxation' technique in many households, those hours add up. In 2009, Nielsen reported that American children aged 2-5 watch an average of 32 hours of television a week. This number climbs even higher when you delve deeper into the report and adjust for screen time gleaned from Internet Videos... like the YouTube clips kids seem so fond of watching these days - you know the ones, unwrapping, surprise eggs, watching OTHER kids (or adults) play with toys, etc. The onslaught is continuous, and even with due diligence, our kids are suffering under the screen pressure, and those flashing lights and constant change of scenes actually decreases attention spans. Reading, on the other hand, increases attention spans. Some guidelines correlate the age of the child with an average attention span of 1 minute for every year. So a 5 year old should be able to hold to task for 5 minutes, an 8 year old for 8 minutes, etc. Often, these minutes will increase when the activity is interesting, or when a child has learned patience through listening to a parent or caretaker read to them. Stories are wonderful attention 'getters', and attention 'expanders'.

Reading Advantage

The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research looked at the long term impact of reading aloud to children, producing a report in March, 2013. Their question was simple, does parental (or caretaker) reading to children affect the child's reading ability and prowess between the ages of 10-11? The answer? Yes. Across the board, with little variance, parental reading increased a child's reading ability and comprehension as the years passed.

A Child Reading in Brookline Booksmith, a Bookstore in Boston, Massachusetts.
Credit to Tom Pierce, CCL - Wikimedia Commons

Bonding

As mentioned above, reading aloud to children helps foster and create loving bonds, bonds that can very well last a lifetime with encouragement. It is just one of the many things parents and caregivers can do to increase closeness - and who doesn't want that?

Upcoming Kids Books - September 2016

Summer is almost over, school is back in session and reading lists are starting to fill up. While your little kiddos may hem and haw at the idea of  class assigned reading material - these books are sure to pique their interest...and yours.

"Ada Twist, Scientist"Written By: Andrea BeatyIllustrations By: David Robert

Release Date: September 6th, 2016
Formats: Kindle & Hardcover
Ages: 5 & Up

From the Amazon Product Page
"The creators of the New York Times bestselling picture books Rosie Revere, Engineer and Iggy Peck, Architect are back with a story about the power of curiosity in the hands of a child who is on a mission to use science to understand her world. Ada Twist, Scientist, from powerhouse team Andrea Beaty and David Roberts, is a celebration of STEM, perseverance, and passion."

When I saw this little gem pop up on my search, I knew I had to pre-order it. I already have Rosie Revere, Engineer for my own daughters, with Iggy Peck on my 'must get' list. This STEM specific series is perfect for the aspiring inventor, scientist or engineer - and is perfect for parents who want to encourage the exploration of imagination and the great world around us. 

"I am Jane Goodall" (Ordinary Change the World)Written By: Brad MeltzerIllustrations By: Christopher Eliopoulos

Release Date: September 6th,2016
Formats: Kindle & Hardcover
Ages: 5 - 8

From the Amazon Product Page
"Each picture book in this series is a biography of a significant historical figure, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that makes the person a role model for kids. The heroes are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person present tense, which keeps the books playful and accessible to young children. And each book ends with a line of encouragement, a direct quote, photos, a timeline, and a source list. This tenth book in the series features Jane Goodall, the scientist and conservationist who is famous for her work with chimpanzees."

Brad Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos team up once again to bring the amazing story of Jane Goodall to print suitable for younger audiences. If you've followed this blog for any period of time, then you've seen books from this series crop up before - because I LOVE THEM! Historical characters are brought to life and to relevance with beautiful illustrations, approachable language and easy to love descriptions. This book, and every book in this ever growing series, belongs on Kindles or shelves everywhere. 

"A Child of Books" Written By: Oliver JeffersIllustrations By: Sam Winston

Release Date: September 6th, 2016
Formats: Hardcover
Ages: 6 & Up

From the Amazon Product Page
"A little girl sails her raft across a sea of words, arriving at the house of a small boy and calling him away on an adventure. Through forests of fairy tales and across mountains of make-believe, the two travel together on a fantastical journey that unlocks the boy’s imagination. Now a lifetime of magic and adventure lies ahead of him . . . but who will be next? Combining elegant images by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston’s typographical landscapes shaped from excerpts of children’s classics and lullabies, A Child of Books is a stunning prose poem on the rewards of reading and sharing stories—an immersive and unforgettable reading experience that readers will want to pass on to others."

Oliver Jeffers of When the Crayons Quit fame (co-author) brings another adventure to the page with this delightful looking tale of imagination and thought. I'll be honest, I haven't read it yet - but the description intrigued me so much that I had to include it on this list. I hope to revisit this title later with insights, please be sure to check back!

"You and Me and the Wishing Tree"Written and Illustrated By: Nancy Tillman

Release Date: September 6th, 2016
Formats: Hardcover
Ages: 4 - 8

From the Amazon Product Page
"We woke up in the usual way, 

but it was not a usual day.
Out on the lawn, plain as could be, 
stood an orange wishing tree.
"I wish!" I said. "I wish!" said you.
And so our double wishes grew.

Wishes are a magical part of childhood. Whether we wish on stars or blow out candles on a cake, our dreams matter. Nancy Tillman captures the wonder of wishes as only she can, with love."

Who doesn't remember making wishes as a child? Whether over a birthday candle or on a shooting star, wishes were important and special - and Nancy Tillman proves in this book that they matter. You may know her work already from On the Night You Were Born or It's Time to Sleep, My Love. 

"Ghostbusters" (A Little Golden Book) Written By: John SazaklisIllustrations By: Alan Batson

Release Date: September 13th, 2016
Formats: Kindle & Hardcovers
Ages: 3 - 7

From the Amazon Product Page
"Thirty years after the original film took the world by storm, Ghostbusters is back and fully rebooted for a new generation. Director Paul Feig combines all the paranormal-fighting elements that made the original franchise so beloved with a cast of new characters, played by the funniest actors working today. The Ghostbusters are back and ready to save the world! Boys and girls ages 3 to 7 will love this laugh-out-loud Little Golden Book retelling, which features some of their favorite moments from the new hit film!" 

Ghostbusters was a huge hit thirty years ago, and despite what some are saying, the update is a huge hit today. With an all female cast, the newest Ghostbusters slammed onto the big screen and now onto A Little Golden Book, bringing this tale to life for those who wish to remember it - or are too young to see it in theaters. For boy and girls alike, this is a book that is sure to be well loved, and oft requested.