Review: Bats and Bones by Jeffrey Hickey

Title: Bats and Bones
Author: Jeffrey Hickey
Artist: Karen Kiser
Format: Paperback, 1st, 44 pages/audio cd
Pub. Date: October 12th 2015
Source: Author


Book Description:

Bats and Bones is IPPY award winning author Jeffrey Hickey's second work for children. This collection of spooky tales for middle school aged children and above is a subtle masterpiece of fright and emotion. Hickey wrote all the stories, the lush music, and does all the voices for the audio book. His wife, Karen Kiser, contributes the cover art, along with some penny whistle and a little piano. The inside illustrations, layout and design are by Rachel Betz, who also designed Hickey's first work for children, Wages Creek.

This was originally released as a CD only. This is the first edition in print.

Review:

★★★

This is a solid collection. Bats and Bones contains a collection of short stories that are aimed to be spooky reads for "middle school aged children and above".

The story telling was okay, but I didn't find it all too spooky. I don't think that the age bracket intended is spot on. It seemed a bit younger than middle school to me. I could be biased, since in junior high I was reading Stephen King already. But, the writing is fair, and I appreciated that each of the stories was unique from one another.

I do think that the audio cd/accompaniment that came with the print book made it a more interesting experience. I highly recommend utilizing the audio component. It does make everything a bit creepier, and makes up for the bit of lacking that I found while only reading the print alone.

If you have a child who is into ghost stories or starting to show an interest in horror, this is a good place to start. If they're already reading horror, then this might not be up to their level of entertainment.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Audiobook Review: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard by Lars Guignard!

Title: Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard
Author: Lars Guignard
Format: Audible Audiobook
Narrator: Bailey Carlson
Pub. Date: February 26th 2013
Source: Mother Daughter Book Reviews & Fantastic Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

If you love fantasy books for middle schoolers like the Percy Jackson series or young adult adventure books like Harry Potter, you’ll love this!

Introducing book 1 of the new kids’ adventure books from best-selling author Lars Guignard:

Zoe and Zak are lost in exotic India, where gods and magic still exist. Before they can find their way home, they just have to do one little thing…

…Save a mythical creature from an ancient evil that wants to rule the world.

When Zoe Guire goes along on her mom’s business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. An elephant god speaks to her from the bottom of a swimming pool… She and her classmate Zak get locked in a trunk and shipped off to a strange city near the foothills of the Himalayas… and a crazy snake charmer tells them they’ve been chosen to protect a mythical creature called the Ghost Leopard from an ancient evil that wants to take over the world.

As they travel deeper into the majestic mountains known as the Realm of the Gods, things get even weirder. If she and Zak want to make it back to their parents, they’re going to have to tap into powers they never knew existed.

Because if they don’t, things will never be the same for any of us ever again.

Review:

★★★

I'm still getting used to listening to audiobooks, and I have to say this one was really pleasant to listen to. I really enjoyed the narrator, Bailey Carlson's, reading of this book and I think kids will love it too. She does different accents and inflections for the different characters, and it really helps the story come to life. It's never confusing to know who is speaking because each voice is distinct. I was really happily surprised by this!

And now for the book itself. I don't think that the "fans of Harry Potter" bit is true- I think this book is a bit younger than that. For example, one of the characters is referred to as "rhino butt" throughout the book. It was cute the first time, but as an adult it got old quickly. Similarly, there's a lot of language repetition like "Did I mention?" and "...or something". It makes it sound more like conversation and less like a book which isn't bad, but it did get a bit redundant.

I also really didn't care for the main character/narrator Zoe. I felt that she came off older than 6th grade, and a bit pretentious. At one point she references how she reads a lot about animals and there's no creatures that have never been photographed.... Which is weird because new creatures are discovered all the time. I grew to like her a bit more as time moved by, but at the beginning it was rough going. I did however like that she is adopted and is okay with it, it added a nice touch of diversity.

All that being said, the story itself is pretty cool. There is a lot of information in this book, and I think that's great in a book aimed for kids. No doubt readers will walk away having learned something. This book is set largely in India, and sometimes Zoe uses a different language like Hindi, and then the meaning is explained. I really appreciated this aspect. There's also a lot of mythology from the Indian philosophies, like the names of different gods and goddesses and what they represent or did. I wish I had a book growing up that focused on Indian tradition- I didn't learn about it until I got to college! Everything was well explained.

The writing was well detailed and easily to visualize. It didn't take much to imagine yourself on the streets of India or in the mountains or in the big fancy hotel right alongside Zoe and Zak. There's magic and powers and evil powers and a ghost leopard- what's not to like? It's written in a diary-esque type format which makes it seem like the story is being told directly to you, which was cool. There were also quite a few moments with humor in them that made me snicker aloud.

All in all, I thought that this was an enjoyable book. I think that kids in the late elementary/early middle school age will like this book the best. This book is like a mix of the Animorphs series, "The Wild Thornberries", and a pinch of "Percy Jackson" for good mythical measure. If you or your child is a fan of those things- I'd recommend it!

Thanks to MD Book Reviews & Fantastic Press for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Audiobook Mini Review- Studs: Edited by Richard Labonté

Title: Studs: Gay Erotic Fiction
Editor: Richard Labonté
Format: Audiobook, 7 hrs and 45 mins
Pub. Date: August 12th 2014
Source: Cleis Press


Book Description via Goodreads:

Rough and surly, smooth and sultry, or quick and raw — however you like it, you’ll find it in Studs, 20 of the hottest and best-written man-to-man sex stories to appear in print this year. In “Underground Operator” two men on a nearly empty subway platform indulge in rough, anonymous sex that lets them momentarily forget the stifling summer heat. “Donuts to Demons” finds a self-described “rock-n-roll artfag” searching for a lover “as patient and gifted and generous as he advertised on Craigslist.”

Review:

★★★

This is an okay mix of m/m erotic short stories, but I think other people will enjoy it more than I did.

Normally with these anthologies, there are a few that I think are mediocre and a few that stand out better than the rest. But honestly, looking back on these stories, I can't name you one specifically. They all just kind of blended together. They weren't altogether bad, but I didn't take away anything from this collection either. For the first time I feel like maybe I'm just not an intended audience for it (which is weird, considering that I normally really enjoy male/male stories). So don't let my opinions deter you too much- if you're a hardcore fan of gay erotica, you might absolutely love it.

I think part of what caused this misclick for me was the audiobook format. When you're listening to erotica, you need that voice to have that special something, otherwise it just feels a bit weird. This narrator didn't do it for me so to speak. There's a good chance that if I read this on my own from a paperback, I would feel differently about the anthology as a whole.

I will admit though, I do love the cover art. I know that's not really pertinent to the discussion of the stories, but I mean look at it. So pretty.

I think that this collection will be up some people's alleys, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. It was an okay read, but it's not something I'm likely to recommend or reread in the future. If you're a fan of m/m erotica, you may enjoy it, and if you end up reading it let me know what you think about it.

Thanks to Cleis Press for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Tour: Audiobook Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway- Crossing the Ice by Jennifer Comeaux!

Title: Crossing the Ice
Series: Ice #1
Author: Jennifer Comeaux
Narrated by: Emily Stokes
Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
Release date: 08/03/14


Book Description via Goodreads:

Falling hard never felt so good.

Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.

The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though...

The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?

Excerpt:

Buy it here: Amazon | Audible | BN | Kobo | iBooks

About the Author:

Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a diehard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is travelling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing. Jennifer loves to hear from readers! Visit jennifercomeaux.blogspot.com for contact information and to learn more about her books.
Facebook | Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Review:

★★★★

I should go on the record- I'm not a big user of audiobooks. That being said, I made an exception when I came across Crossing the Ice. I helped take part in a book blitz for the book awhile back, and was eagerly awaiting the chance to read (or listen to) it. For reason unbeknownst to me, I absolutely adore books with sports themes. Ice skating falls snugly right into that category. This is my first reading experience from Jennifer Comeaux, but I hope it won't be the last. This hit the spot.

I feel like this book is really well informed. I have not ever been involved with ice skating more than a just-for-fun skate at a rink set up here in Chicago for the Christmas season. That said, I'm relatively unversed in the topic, save for what I have picked up from watching the Olympics over the years. But I was never confused throughout this story set in the competitive skating world, and honestly I probably walked away learning a thing or two about it. It's clear to me that the author knows way more about it than I do, and did her research, which makes for a better setting and deeper story.

I also really liked the characters. You feel for them, whether you love or hate them (and you will hate some). I liked that Courtney stood her ground and went after what she wanted, both on and off the ice. I also loved Josh. He's so sweet and coy and I would like to just carry him around in my pocket with me. ....And then there's Stephanie. -glare- That's all I'll say about that for fear of giving away spoilers.

As for the audiobook itself, it had its ups and downs. I think the narrator's voice was pleasant enough, and it held my attention throughout most of the story. However, there were a few times where it was awkwardly paused or stumbled over, I felt. Over all it was easy to listen to, but it wasn't anything to necessarily write home about either.

I'd recommend this to anyone in the mood for a new adult romantic comedy or anyone who has an interest or affinity for ice skating or competition. Thanks so much to YA Bound Book Tours and Jennifer Comeaux who provided me with an audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Follow the rest of the tour here!

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Blog Tour Organized by:
YA Bound Book Tours

Audiobook Review: Beautiful Bitch

Title: Beautiful Bitch (Beautiful Bastard #1.5)
Author: Christina Lauren
Format: Audiobook, 3hr26min.
Narrators: Grace Grant & Kirby Heybourne
Pub. Date: July 9th 2013
Source: Once Upon A Twilight blog

★★★

Three stars.

Beautiful Bitch is a short novella that is meant to follow the book Beautiful Bastard. Bennett and Chloe have just reunited after a time apart, at a time when Chloe's getting a new career, but Bennett refuses to let her go. I will be reviewing the audiobook version of this story.

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Right off the bat, I'd like to say that I have not read Beautiful Bastard, though it is on my to-be-read list. I feel strongly that if you haven't read the first book, you shouldn't read/listen to this novella as I did.

I didn't feel as though I got to learn anything about the characters. I'm sure that if I had read Beautiful Bastard, that wouldn't be the case. But throughout Beautiful Bitch I felt disconnected from both sides of this couple, and I wasn't really emotionally invested in their story.

That being said, the steamy scenes were well written and very tempting. A few times the story would begin to heat up only to stop suddenly, teasing the reader. The writing in this book was by no means bad, though there were a few more "fucks" than necessary, in my humble opinion.

To continue from that, I wish that I had gotten a print or ebook copy of this instead of an audiobook copy. To be fair, I am picky with my audiobooks in the first place. But hearing a male reader narrate sex to me was just kind of awkward, and I wanted it to stop. Nothing personal against the writing or the reader on the audio, just my own quirk apparently that I don't want erotica playing aloud from my computer. Lesson learned.

If you loved Chloe and Bennett in Beautiful Bastard, by all means give this story a whirl. You might love it. But as someone unfamiliar with the first book, this was a short and admittedly steamy narration that was simply okay. If you didn't read Beautiful Bastard, I'd recommend skipping this for now.

Thanks to Once Upon A Twilight for my audiobook copy.