Review - Three Day Town by Margaret Maron

Three Day Town by Margaret Maron
Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (November 21, 2011)
Language: English
Rate: 3/5
ISBN-10: 0446555789
ISBN-13: 978-0446555784
Author Site: Margaret Maron

Judge Deborah Knott and Sheriff's Deputy Dwight Bryant are on a train to New York, finally on a honeymoon after a year of marriage. January in New York might not be the perfect time to visit, but they'll take it. The trip is a Christmas present from Dwight's sister-in-law, who arranged for them to stay in an Upper West Side apartment for one week. While in New York, Deborah has been asked to deliver a package to Lt. Sigrid Harald of the NYPD. Sigrid offers to swing by the apartment to pick up the box, but when they reach the apartment, they discover that it is missing and the doorman has been murdered. Despite their best efforts to enjoy a blissful getaway, Deborah and Dwight soon find that they've teamed up with Sigrid and her team to catch the killer before he strikes again.

Ok I love a good mystery like the next person but I just couldn't get into this book. Let me start by saying, this was not the best mystery but certainly not the worst either. It does have potential. At first the story just drags along Deborah and Dwight are getting ready to leave to go on there honeymoon. Yeah women want to pack everything in the house ya da ya da....Men are always in a hurry....ya da ya da..... Needless to say they make there train and they make it to New York, safely if I may add.... Hooray!!!!!

I know as good as anyone else a book needs fillers but come on every time I turn around it nonsense stuff. Like what and where they ate at,shoe addict, what somebody
had on... Hum Hello!!! Snows on the ground and in New York. Which is very irradiating to me because it makes the book drag out even further..ZZZZ wake me when the blood shed begins.....

Say what!! The buildings super is dead. Found dead in Deborah and Dwight's apartment. Oh no!!! Who could have done such a thing everybody loved Phyllis oops I mean Phil. He was such a swell guy or may I say gal. Still never figured out what difference it made if he was a male or female. For me this is about when the book started to get interesting. Although I would have figured Dwight would have been more part of the story. Dwight's a deputy he could helped more with the case,even if it was out of his jurisdiction. After all the building super was killed in his apartment.

Review-All About Stacy by Patricia Reilly Giff

All About Stacy by Patricia Reill Giff
Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Paperback: 80 pages
Publisher: Yearling (October 1, 1988)
Language: English
Rating: 3
Authors Site: Patricia Reilly Giff
ISBN-10: 0440400880
ISBN-13: 978-0440400882

Stacy can't wait to start her new class project, making an "About-Me" box. Into it will go special things that she likes. Jiwon's putting a scrap of her old baby dress in her About-Me box. Eddie's putting pictures of food in his. But Stacy can't think of one thing to put in hers.How can Stacy make her About-Me box as special as Jiwon's or Eddie's? She has to do something fast. Can she turn her box of troubles into a box of delights?

I thought this was a great book for young kids espically for those whom just starting school. This year instead of an about-me box, my son's class done a about-me bag. It's the same as the box but they had to put 5 things in a little brown paper luch bag,of things that tells about them and they could decorate there bags. I thought that was just an alsome idea for the little chaps to get to know each other and I had fun helping him fill his up. We put in all kinds of stuff, like a family photo,a toy car,his favorite DVD which is Cars lol, candy wrapper and sent in bag of candy where he could share with his class. Needless to say the little tikes enjoyed themselves not only from the candy but from learning about each other.
Everybody's special no matter what you put in a box or bag. We are all unique otherwise the world sure would be a boring place....

Review- Island Girls and Boys by Rachel Hawthorne

Island Girls and Boys by Rachel Hawthorne

Released: June 1, 2005
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Format: paperback
Source: Bought
Rating: 4/5
Author Site: Rachel Hawthorne

Date: July 4
Rental type: 2-person sailboat
Rented by: Jen Taylor and Dylan Nelson
Rental time: 8:15 p.m.
Destination: Out to sea!
Life jackets: 2
Time back: ??? Don't wait up!

Fresh out of High School these 3 BFF's plan to spend there summer on a remote island before they say there goodbyes and head off to different colleges at the end of the summer.. Jennifer got them all summer jobs at the Coastal Campground Resorts to help pay there share of the uittilies and grocery costs while staying in her grandparents house.

I started reading this book and couldn't put it down! I got so caught up in the characters and there little tantrums. I can't say that I like one more than the other because they all have a quality that I can relate to in my younger and now self. Jennifer is a take charge kind of gal and like me I have to have things a certain way. I defiantly don't like changes of any sorts. Amy is more tender hearted and brings in all types of strays(cat,dogs,oh and um mm guys) and always in the middle of Jen's and Chell's squabbles. I feel for Amy because I know what it's like to have to keep the peace. I do it all the time with my youngsters...and Miss Chelsea; what a total drama queen, but she gets it honestly. She's the baby in her family and yes I'm the baby in mine. I had my moments and I still do lol. Anyhow Chelsea has a boyfriend (Noah one of the unexpected things) and she ends up spending all her time with him during their summer of independence. Jen doesn't approve of Noah staying with them and not partaking in his share of the costs. I have to agree I would be hot too but soon Jen finds something to take her mind off the matter at hand altogether when none other than a sexy blue eyed boy named Dylan comes into her life. Dylan's just a passerby also looking to have a good time before he goes off into the army. Unexpected things start to happen between Jen and Dylan. One he will be leaving soon and two they starting to fall in love with each other. What will the out come be???? Will Dylan stay with Jen until he has to go or will he just pack up and leave her heart broken??? Well whatever the outcome it's one summer they all will never forget.....

Jennifer, Amy, and Chelsea learns a valuable lesson during their time spent living together. They all learn that living together is not as easy as they expected it to be. It's not easy living on your own and they found that out real quick..Can there friendship withstand all the unexpected changes that's coming on the horizon???

Review- Pie In The Sky by Lois Ehlert

Reading level: Ages 3 and up
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (April 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0152165843
ISBN-13: 978-0152165840
Authors Site: Lois Ehlert

Do pies grow on trees? Join a father and child as they watch over their backyard cherry tree--and all the colorful living things surrounding it--throughout the seasons. At the end of the summer, they harvest the cherries together and make a delicious pie for the whole family to enjoy.
This stunning new book from bestselling author Lois Ehlert features color concepts, backyard natural history, vibrant collage illustrations, and, best of all, a recipe for making cherry pie. Yum!

Okay seems like Lois Ehlert is becoming one of my children's favorite authors. Every time we go to the library one of them checks out a book by her. lol... Not that I'm complaining! I'm really glad they enjoy her books as much as they do. I think Ehlert is a great children's author and I love her books as much as the kiddies do. They are fun and easy for the kids to read.

Pie in the sky is great for those of all ages. It shows the innocents of a child on how they think and learn. As grown ups we often forget the pricelessness of being a youngster ourselves. I'll never forget that my sister wanted to be an apple tree when she grew up. Well she's all grown up but I still don't see any apples hanging from her. LMAO Sorry issy you knows I love ya but that was just to darn funny.... All those crazy questions we asked our parents growing up and you know a child just knows everything or so they seem to think they do. Like in this story the little boy thinks pies is going to grow from the cherry tree. Everyday the boy looks at the tree and sees different shapes and colors on the tree, all types of insects and birds but never any pie. An one day when the cherries ripened his daddy finally says lets make a pie.

Review-Every-Day Dress-Up by Selina Alko

Reading level: Ages 5 and up
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375860924
ISBN-13: 978-0375860928
Authors Website: Selina Alko

It's no secret that little girls love playing dress up, but the little girl in this book ditches her princess duds in favor of costumes inspired by great women in history.

What an fun adorable book I just loved everything about it. Besides playing ordinary everyday princess dress up. This little girl spices up her wardrobe every day of the week! She dresses up as a different famous woman in history. For example; Amelia Earhart, the First Lady of the US, and many more that I haven't even heard of. I found that Every-Day Dress-Up is very educational and fun all at the same time. Your child not only learns the days of the week, but also learns about history of different famous women and on how to be creative in learning; not to mention the illusturations are fun and unique. I highly recommend this book....

Review - The Halloween Kittens

The Halloween Kittens by Maggie Kneen
Released: August 5, 2004
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Age Group: Childrens
Pages: 20 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Library

Trick and Treat, two mischievous kittens, cause all kinds of trouble as their parents try to prepare for a Halloween party.

What a cute little book about two adorable kittens who get into everything. Trick and Treat reminds me of my two mischievous children, who are always up to no good also. I loved the illustrations especially all those yummy treats. I cant wait to go trick or treating myself...Oh I mean cant wait to take the kiddies...

Review - Night Life (A Nocturene City Novel) by Caitlin Kittredge

Night Life by Caitlin Kittredge
Released: March 4, 2008
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 352 pages
Format: Paperback
Source: Bought
Authors Site: Caitlin Kittredge

The first book in a thrilling, addictive new series by a talented new voice in dark fantasy. Welcome to Nocturne City, where werewolves, black magicians, and witches prowl the streets at night…
Among them is Luna Wilder, a tough-as-nails police officer whose job is to keep the peace. As an Insoli werewolf, Luna travels without a pack and must rely on instinct alone. And she’s just been assigned to find the ruthless killer behind a string of ritualistic murders—a killer with ties to an escaped demon found only in legend…until now.
But when she investigates prime suspect Dmitri Sandovsky, she can’t resist his wolfish charms. Pack leader of a dangerous clan of Redbacks, Dimitri sends her animal instincts into overdrive and threatens her fiercely-guarded independence. But Luna and Dimiri will need to rely on each other as they’re plunged into an ancient demon underworld and pitted against an expert black magician with the power to enslave them for eternity…

Looking for a bedtime tale,well Night Life would certainly be the perfect book. What a total snoozzzzzer. Like most books you have to read a couple of chapters before you actually get into a book, but my Gawd I've gotten to chapter eighteen and still havn't gotten into it. The main charter Luna Wilder is a tough ass police officer who is also a werewolf. All during the story she gets suspended, gets put back on the murder case, gets fired WTF make up your mind. Luna has a bad attitude to top it all off and she fights her innerself from changing into her werewolf form. Let me tell you, Luna hasn't changed into a werewolf yet, came close and I'm on Chapter Eighteen.I just had to throw it down,I hate not finishing a book but I'm not wasting anymore of my time on this one....Just turn into a werewolf and be done with it already...

Review - City of Bones by Cassandra Clare The Mortal Instruments Book One

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare The Mortal Instruments
Released: March 27, 2007
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 496 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Library
Authors Site: Cassandra Clare

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

City of Bones was quite an interesting book. It had me fully engrossed from the beginning. I connected with the charactters from the get go because it has vamps, werewolves, shadowhunters, and alot of magical elements that I enjoy. The story was easy to follow; a bit predictable but it's young adult. What do you expect for a YA book? What I really like about it is the author doesn't put in alot of those no nonsense words that you have to guess what they mean or yank out the old dictionary. Gawd I really hate those types, rolling eyes...What's the point in it if nobody can understand what the meaning is? Anyhow Clare used a word that I thought was kinda cool (Mundanes) word that the shadowhunters used meaning humans. They make us humans sound so dreadful, but yet they protect us. This day and age we need all the protection we can get...

Review - Blood Vines by Erica Spindler

•Pub. Date: March 2010
•Publisher: St. Martin's Press
•Format: Hardcover , 338pp
•Sales Rank: 648,227
•ISBN-13: 9780312363925
•ISBN: 0312363923
Author Site: Erica Spindler

A sinister, hooded figure…When Alexandra Clarkson starts having terrifying visions filled with blood and ceremonial images, she tries to find a rational explanation – maybe her mind is playing tricks on her, resurrecting creepy tableaux from her research on religious ceremonies and sects. But when Alex’s mother, Patsy, commits suicide without leaving behind any information, Alex is left wondering: could she be haunted by something from the childhood she doesn’t remember? Naked, writhing bodies…Detective Daniel Reed was the last person to speak to Patsy. What he reveals to Alex is shocking. Twenty-five years earlier, Patsy was married to Harlan Sommer, one of Sonoma County’s most prominent vintners, when their infant son disappeared without a trace. The loss destroyed the Sommers’ marriage, causing Patsy to leave and take Alex with her. A dead child…Called on to investigate the identity of a baby’s remains unearthed in a Sonoma vineyard, Reed had picked up a trail that led him to Patsy in San Francisco. Now Reed and Alex both wonder if the cold bones could be her baby brother Dylan, and Alex decides to accompany Reed back to Sonoma for the investigation. No sooner does she arrive, however, than she is drawn deep into the search for a twisted killer…

Blood runs deep in these vines,lots of twists and turns. Quite shocking had me guessing to the very end. Once I started reading I couldnt put this one down. I was so into Blood Vines that I forgot all about the time, I was almost late picking my kids up from school. Ooopps...So I highly recomend this book to anyone. Well not to the kiddies of course.LOL...It's a shelf keep for sure. I do belive it has a bit of everything that you would like, thriller, romance,and most defentaly lots of mystery,even had me in tears on some parts...

I dont know what Sonoma County puts in they wine but I sure dont want any of it. If Alex knew what was good for her she would have stayed in San Francisco, but who can blame her for wanting to find the root of her troubles.

Buz by Richard Egielski

Buz by Richard Egielski
Released: February 3, 1999
Publisher: HarperCollins
Age Group: Childrens
Pages: 32 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Library
Authors Site: Richard Egielski

When a young boy accidentally swallows poor Buz , a bug, along with his morning cereal, he's prescribed two pills to remedy the situation. Little does he know what is going on inside! In his award-winning signature style, Richard Egielski invents an ingenious behind-the-scenes adventure of two keystone cop-like pills in pursuit of a bug inside a human body. Buz eventually makes his escape, only to discover he has caught a bug of his own. On with the chase!

Buz caught my sons eye at our local library and like all little boys he loves all types of bugs. grrr I can't stand them myself, bugs I mean. Any how he absolutely loved this book, every time I turned around he was just a cackling at the characters. It's a simple short story and has great illustrations. BUZZ BUZ

Review - Finders Keepers by Will and Nicolas

Finders Keepers by Will and Nicolas
Released: August 1, 1989
Publisher: Sandpiper
Age Group: Childrens
Pages: 32 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Library

Two dogs find one bone and have difficulty deciding which of them owns it. “Here is a perfect combination of rollicking story and pictures that have strength, life and humor in every line.

Meet Winkles and Nags two adorable pooches whom are best friends. Well one day they dug up a bone and Winks and Nags started arguing about who's bone it was. Since they couldnt decide who had seniority of it they went through town asking everyone who they think should get the bone. Well nobody had time for there nonsense. They had other things on there minds. So Winkles and Nags just have to figure out a way to solve there own bone problem. How do they do it I wonder? Well you be surprised how these two pooches solve their bone problem...

This is a great book for the kiddies, they will enjoy the tale of these two dogs. It will teach your child about how they can solve there own problems, having friends and how to share. I enjoy spending time reading books with similar ideas like this book had to my kids. Spending time reading with my children is some of the most cherished moments I have.

Review - Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
Released: September 1, 2005
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Age Group: Childrens
Pages: 40 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Library

Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese? Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows? No one's quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows.

What an adorable little book about leafs. Ehlert has a very creative imagination when it comes to leafman.Who knew you could have so much fun with leaves?? IF my daugther wasnt learning about different plants and leaves in her class, I hate to think that we would have missied out on a great story. An the illustrations are breath taking,it has leaf cows,leaf ducks and birds all made form different types of leafs. I swear they so life like,I kept trying to pick one up. Yelp I can see my wee ones now outside looking for them a leafman. Humm maybe I can get them to rack the yard now. HEE HEE

A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows....

Review - Balloons Over Broadway The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet

Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet
Released: November 1, 2011
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Age Group: Childrens
Pages: 40 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Author
Authors Site: Melissa Sweet

Who invented the first balloons for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! Everyone’s a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”? In brilliant collage illustrations, the award-winning artist Melissa Sweet tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America—the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy’s Parade.

As a child growing up every year I loved watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and still do till this day. It's a time honoring tradition to see all those beautiful colorful floats and huge balloons. In this book Balloons Over Broadway tells you how and why the Macy's Day Parade originally started and also tells who created the puppeteer balloons we all have enjoyed for years. I enjoyed reading this book with my kids and we learnt so much from it. I was really surprised how much they enjoyed it being a true story but it was very interesting and kept us entertained to the very end.

Review - The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books (April 23, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618007016
ISBN-13: 978-0618007011
Authors Site: David Wiesner

Three pigs... Straw, sticks, bricks... Huffs and puffs... You probably know the rest. It's an old story, And every time someone tells it The same thing happens.
But who says it's suposed to? Who's in charge of this story? Who gets to decide? Has anyone asked the pigs? No? Well, it's about time someone did. Here, Thanks to David Wiesner, Is the answer.

Hummm... Totally not what I expected, definately not your classic Three Little Pig tale. I'm just so glad that I read and reviewed this book before I read it to my kids because this book is pure rubbish.. It starts out like your ordinary three little pig tale but when the big bad wolf ate the first pig the story just got weird from there. And what does "Hey Diddle Diddle" have to do with anything in the three little pig story? I dont see the point and was completely lost. Oh my !!! I think I need a xanax to recover from the shock to my system. A big plea to the author....PLEASE leave the Classics ALONE....

Review - Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Holiday House (September 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0823413209
ISBN-13: 978-0823413201

Ever since she was a little girl, Rebecca Estelle has hated pumpkins. Baked pumkins, steamed pumpkins, boiled pumpkins. Stewed pumkins, mashed pumkins, rotten pumpkins. Enough Pumpkins!
When an enormous pumpkin falls off a truck and smashes in her yard, Rebecca Estelle shovels dirt over the pieces and forgets about them. But those slimy pumpkin smithereens sprout up in spring, and she finds herself wih a sea of pumpkins. What will she do with so many pumpkins, when she can't stand the sight of even one?

What a delightful tale about pumpkins. The lesson learned: You can not hide your problems by covering them up and forgetting about them like Estelle did with her pumpkins. Estelle learnt the hard way, when life gives you lemons you make lemonade and when a pumpkin falls off the pumpkin truck you get rid of it or you'll wind up with a huge pumpkin patch....

The illustrations are beautiful with a homey old timey feeling. You can almost smell the spices and pumpkins in Estelle's kitchen just by looking at the pages.

During the great Depression Linda White's aunt grew up on a farm and money was very scarce and pumpkins were all they had to eat at times. This sparked her to write this wonderful book!

Review - Virals by Kathy Reichs

Virals by Kathy Reichs
Released: November 2, 2010
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 464 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Library
Author Site: Kathy Reichs

Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage “sci-philes” who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their newfound physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot-if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer’s scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends- they’re a pack. They are Virals.

Kathy Reichs is a brilliant author and I love her hit TV show, Bones, but Reichs novels are way better. Virals is Reichs first Young Adult novel and would be a great book for any of our young adult readers. Not only does Reichs turn you on to her love of anthropologie and science but also leaves you wanting to learn more. I would like to read more about Tory and her pack of Virals and know more about there newfound powers and what they can do... In a way there powers seems cool it helped them solve a murder and manged to save there lives quite a few times. If anything like that should happen to me I would most defently be Freak INNGGG OUT and here a couple of teenagers just accepting a new rare vires as a part of everyday life.. I guess thats all they can do for the time being until they can learn or experience more about the problem...

Review - Melvin Might Trucktown Series by Jon Scieszka

Melvin Might by Jon Scieszka
Illustrated by David Shannon, David Gordon, and Loren Long
Released: October 28, 2008
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Age Group: Childrens
Pages: 42 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Library
Author Site: Jon Scieszka

Melvin the worrying Cement Mixer worries about EVERYTHING... and doesn't think he can do ANYTHING. He watches nervously as Jack, Pete, and Rita roar, soar, and splash their way to cross a ravine. But when Rita cries out for help, Melvin knows he must do something. But how can he save her if he's worrying so much?

I Highly recommend this book and all of the other Trucktown Series for that matter to anyone. I give Jon Scieszka a ***** rating on these wonderful books. Both me and my son LOVES Jon Scieszka's Trucktown series. This is our second book in the trucktown series (Melvin Might).. Totally awesome book if you ask me..I love all the crazy chartcers, each one has there own personality and I really can't say which one is my favorite....not to mention the illustrations are breath taking, and we'd love to have the whole gang. So cuddle up with your little one and have a ROOAARRRRIIINNGGGG good time.
Also the Author of Smash Crash

Review - Dog and Bear Two Friends * Three Stories by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Dog Bear Two Friends Three Stories by Laura Vaccoro Seeger

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; First Edition edition (April 3, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1596430532
ISBN-13: 978-1596430532
Authors Site: Laura Vaccoro Seegar

It's impossible to resist the charms of picture book pals Dog and Bear. Where Dog (a frisky daschund) is brave and boisterous, colorful stuffed animal Bear is shy, and--much like the beloved curmudgeons Frog and Toad have for generations--their playful misadventures illustrate the joys of having a best friend at your side. Young readers will delight in these clever little vignettes and marvel as they watch Dog and Bear animate each page with big, bold color and expression. Take a look at a sample of pages from Dog and Bear below--or listen to author Laura Vaccaro Seeger read from the book at the top of this page--and discover a new reading treasure that would inspire any child to plead (as Dog does to Bear), "Read to me!"

This was a great book not only was the stories good but the pictures are beautiful. I enjoyed every minute that my 7 year old daugther read it to me. She's in first grade and loves to read. YAY!!!! Yelp,I'm one a proud mama..lol...I have to say Laura know her audience well cause I do belive this book was specially made for my daughter. She loves animals, mainely you guessed it dogs.. When she's not reading she likes to play outside even if she doesnt have the propper attire on. An she always trying to get her little brother to play with her,reminds me so much of the dash hound in the story...play with me play with me....:)

Review of Wicked Ties by Shayla Black

Wicked Ties by Shayla Black
Released: January 2, 2007
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 352 pages
Format: Hardback
Source: Bought
Author Site: Shayla Black

When a stalker ratchets up his attempts to get to her, cable sex talk show host Morgan O'Malley turns to Jack Cole-a self-proclaimed dominant- for help. Though Jack is a bodyguard, Morgan feels anything but safe in his presence. Because slowly and seductively, Jack is bringing her deepest fantasies to the surface. And when he bends her to his will, what's more shocking than her surrender is how much she enjoys it and how she starts to crave his masterful touch. A willing player in Jack's games, Morgan knows that his motives aren't pure. But she has no idea how personal they are.

WOW!!! Author Shayla Black had her creative jucies flowing in this book. I don't think you can get much more wicked or can you??? ummmmm......Well things sure could'nt get any more wicked for Morgan O'Malley. Morgan is a hostess for a cable sex talk show and she thought she heard and knew all about kinky until the day she met sexy Jack Cole. Jack is a former bodyguard and wants nothing more than to protect Morgan's body from her psycho stalker and from herself. Did I mention that Jack is also a sexy hot dominant alpha male and wants to dominant Morgan in more ways than one??? Yelp, Jack wants to fullfill Morgans deepest darkest sexual fantasies and turn them into reality. Whew, does Morgan have some fantasies needing to be fulfilled...I wouldn't dare compare my sexual fantasies to hers, she makes mine seem well nonchalant...So not only is Morgan worried about her stalker, she also wonders if she's really all that safe with Jack...