When a giant nor’easter dumps a blanket of snow on the village of Dunwich, Massachussetts, Robert Arthur and his friends find themselves marooned inside Lovecraft Middle School. The kids have no choice but to spend the night—while snacking on cafeteria food, sleeping on classroom floors, and facing off against a mysterious substitute teacher who may have a sinister secret. The latest adventure in the Lovecraft Middle School series features more adventures, more outrageous monsters, and another terrifying lenticular cover!

my thoughts:

Fabulous book for middle grade students.  If your child, or yourself for that matter, like strange, spooky stories you will love this series.  The fourth installment is the strangest by far.  The substitute creature is a quick read.  It doesn't have the 'yuck' factor of the previous book, no bugs!!  In this installment we are finally introduced to the old man himself.  

Kids will enjoy the morphing book covers.  The language of these books is easy to read, not too challenging, but not too simple.  Easy enough for a 12-14 year old to keep reading without difficulty.  

Of the four books so far, I enjoyed this one the best.  We see a growing friendship between Robert, Glenn and Karina.   I look forward to the continuing adventures of these three in their quest to defeat the evil intentions of Crawford Tillinghast.

Don't forget to check out the school's website

http://lovecraftmiddleschool.com/

SKELETON KEY GUILD

BOOK 5 OF THE DOORKNOB SOCIETY SAGA

BY 

MJ FLETCHER

about the book

YA Urban Fantasy

Date Published: May 1, 2013

Synopsis: 

BOOK #5 in the Doorknob Society Saga

Her parents dead, her sister missing, and those she loves branded traitors to the Old Kind... Chloe Masters is on the run.

To fulfill a parent’s dying wish she will do anything to save the sister she has never met. Can she learn the secrets of the Artifacts before it’s too late? Surrounded by her friends; Slade, Edgar, Jess, Val and the man she loves James Nightshade, Chloe has never had so much to live for... but will her enemies let her?

my thoughts

Wow. It's over.  The 5 book series is finished.  I'm happy and sad at the same time.  I feel like I'm saying 'goodbye' to old friends.   I've watched Chloe grow from a high school student to a great leader.  I've watched her fall in love and go through all sorts of trials you can only imagine.  

The writing is superb.  The character growth and development is fantastic.  The storyline is impressive.  

Everything now makes sense.  We see twists and turns I couldn't have imagined.  MJ Fletcher has an incredible imagination.  

I loved the entire series.  I loved the way the books seamlessly connected from book one to book five.  I love all the characters (especially Edgar).  

Highly recommend this as fun summer reading, get all five and bring them to the beach with you.  You'll laugh, you'll cry. You won't be sorry you read this amazing saga.

We are including an excerpt from book 5

Nightshade rolled over in the bed and slid his arm around my waist yanking me across the sheets to rest against him. His skin felt warm against mine and I snuggled closer, not wanting to move from this spot. His fingers slid over my mechanical hand and our fingers interlaced. I had a full range of sensation with the hand and it felt almost real except for—you know—being able to punch a hole through stone.

“We need to get up,” I found myself saying even though I didn’t want to.

“It’s not like we got a whole lot of sleep.” He laughed.

“And whose fault is that?” I gave him the evil eye and he leaned in and kissed me as only he could. I’d had boyfriends before but no man ever made me feel the way James Nightshade did. “Stop that! We need to get up.”

“No, thank you.” He pulled me even closer to him and I laughed in spite of myself.

“You’re incorrigible.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“We have things to do,” I said punctuating my statement with a poke to his chest.

“Fine, if you say so, boss lady.” He rolled off of me and stood with his back to me and his scars were clearly visible. 

I’d gotten to know the curve and thickness of each of them in the last few weeks. I hated that he had them, especially since I was the cause of them, but I also had grown used to them. I couldn’t imagine him without them.

“Don’t call me boss lady,” I huffed and got out of bed yanking a shirt on and shimmying into a pair of jeans.

“Why not, you’re the boss aren’t you?” He tugged on a form fitting T-shirt and leaned over tossing aside the blankets. He grabbed a pair of boots and slipped them on.

A shiver ran up my spine as I sensed a portal open nearby, we weren’t alone. “I told you we needed to get going.”

“Well if someone hadn’t mentioned they knew this great bed and breakfast in the South of France we wouldn’t even be here.” He smirked as he pulled his Skeleton Key out of his jeans and activated it.

“So what, this is my fault now?”

“Like I said it wasn’t my idea to come here.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re seriously trying to say this is my fault?”

“You’re not always right, just admit it.” He shrugged.

“Me admit it? Excuse me, you’re the one who can never admit you’re wrong.”

“If you say so, boss lady.”

The door to our room exploded inward and a member of the First Kind burst in, a glowing azure axe in his hand. He rushed forward and Nightshade spun around thrusting out his leg and kicking him directly in the stomach. He doubled over with a grunt and I brought my elbow down into the back of his head smashing him to the floor.

“I told you not to call me that!” 

M.J. Fletcher

Author Bio

MJ Fletcher is the creator of the comic book series Adam Zero: The Last Man of Earth published by Ronin Studios. He's also been published in Hope: The Hero Initiative and Digital Webbing Presents. The Doorknob Society series is his fist book series and he's thrilled about it. He lives near the beach with his wife, daughter, dog, and a crotchety cat.    

Contact Links

Website

Twitter: @fletch125

Facebook: doorknobsociety

Links to Buy 

http://www.amazon.com/Skeleton-Guild-Doorknob-Society-ebook/dp/B00CR3LP1Q/

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Skeleton-Key-Guild/book-MbXIfd24a0mZdrqUF0gEcw/page1.html?s=nT7mn02ExUCsJLhkoXburg&r=1

About Spartacus: Rebellion

Publication Date: May 14, 2013

St. Martin's Press

Hardcover; 464p

ISBN-10: 1250012775

Spartacus has already done the impossible—not only has he escaped from slavery, he and his seconds have created a mighty slave army that has challenged Rome and defeated the armies of three praetors, two consuls, and one proconsul. On the plain of the River Po, in modern Northern Italy, Spartacus has defeated Gaius Cassius Longinus, proconsul and general of an army of two legions. Now the road home lies before them—to Thrace for Spartacus, and to Gaul for his seconds-in-command, Castus and Gannicus.

But storm clouds are gathering on the horizon. One of Spartacus's most powerful generals has defected, taking his men with him. Back in Rome, the immensely rich Marcus Licinius Crassus is gathering an unheard-of Army. The Senate has given Crassus an army made up of ten legions and the authority to do whatever it takes to end the slave rebellion once and for all.

Meanwhile, Spartacus wants to lead his men over the Alps and home, but his two seconds have a different plan. They want to march on Rome itself and bring the Republic to its knees. Rebellion has become war. War to the death. 

Praise for Spartacus: Rebellion

"The author comes into his own during the numerous battle scenes when his burly prose highlights the pain, brutality and chaos of ancient combat. Kane's Spartacus is brave, vain, ruthless and sexy, a Superman for more savage times. The author is genuinely deserving of praise for taking on this mighty subject matter in such a bold and regularly entertaining fashion. Admirers of Kane's work to date will not be disappointed and there's every chance this latest instalment will attract plenty more." (Daily Express )

"Kane succeeds in drawing a convincing picture of how it might have been, which is what a good historical novel should do." (Historical Novel Society ) 

Praise for Spartacus: The Gladiator

Gritty, passionate and violent, this thrilling book is a real page-turner and a damn good read. It brings Spartacus - and ancient Rome - to vivid, colourful life (Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of Gates of Fire )

Ben Kane manages to bring a freshness to the saga ... Told with Kane's usual panache and historical knowledge, this book is highly recommended (Kathy Stevenson, Daily Mail )

Eyes are merciless, blows are wicked and screams are piercing, but this is a compulsive if relentless story, vividly recounted in muscular prose. Definitely one for the boys (Daily Telegraph, 4 stars )

If you want to become familiar with the lanista and the rudus, to know your scutum from your licium, then Kane's your man ... plenty of action (Independent )

There is much to enjoy in this saga of the downtrodden triumphing temporarily over their oppressors, and the portrait of Spartacus as charismatic leader is a vivid one (Sunday Times) 

my thoughts:

I loved the way Ben Kane was able to bring these characters to life.  They are not just historical figures, but actual people.  You can understand their thoughts and  feel what they are feeling.  

Spartacus is a larger than life figure.  When you read this novel, you will feel as if you truly know Spartacus.

Very well researched. Easy to read.  You will learn a great deal about the ancient Roman empire.  You will not be able to put this book down. 

About the Author

Ben Kane was born in Kenya and raised there and in Ireland. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon from University College Dublin, and worked in Ireland and the UK for several years. After that he travelled the world extensively, indulging his passion for seeing the world and learning more about ancient history. Seven continents and more than 65 countries later, he decided to settle down, for a while at least.

While working in Northumberland in 2001/2, his love of ancient history was fuelled by visits to Hadrian's Wall. He naïvely decided to write bestselling Roman novels, a plan which came to fruition after several years of working full time at two jobs - being a vet and writing. Retrospectively, this was an unsurprising development, because since his childhood, Ben has been fascinated by Rome, and particularly, its armies. He now lives in North Somerset with his wife and family, where he has sensibly given up veterinary medicine to write full time.

To find out more about Ben and his books visit www.benkane.net.

I'd like to introduce a book by author 
Ezra Jonah Jacobs.   The book is called
The Tale of the Valiant Hero Kenta

about the book:

Fantasy/Romance/Historical/Action-Adventure

Date Published: March 22, 2013

Synopsis: 

Kenta Takeyama is a 16 year old martial artist who possesses superhuman 

strength and abilities and the Takeyama -ryuu fighting art. He desires to become the most 

powerful shogun on the Nikkoujima (Sun Light Islands), as there are much more powerful 

men in the world. He lives with his father Tesshin, who trained him in the martial arts, and 

his mother Amaya, who is the former princess of a royal family and master fighter; his little 

sister Mana, who wants to become a famous play actress and open her own production studio, 

as well as his pet bear Kumomori, whom he had since he was 4. Kenta finds that it’s time to 

follow his dreams of becoming a great and powerful shogun (using his power to protect people 

and build more homes and villages, help the poor and starving, rather than just for pomp and 

circumstance. He wants the people to live in peace and prosperity with no fear, as the world is 

already entering another age of war. Essentially, he wants to change the country). And so, with 

his parents’ permission, he decides to travel to Senkyou to enlist in the military and become 

a true samurai warrior. He feels confident that the can do so after going through many trials 

and travels through his childhood, and training under the tutelage of his father in his family’s 

martial arts styles.

During the first part of the novel, after a little love fiasco with his childhood friend 

Yumine who has a crush on him and sparring with some buddies, he travels the lush and vibrant 

island and helps many different people out. As Kenta reaches Senkyou, he meets new rivals 

and friends, such as Natsumi, a new love interest and Hayate, a mysterious ninja who wants 

to raise up his own organization of ninja mercenaries. During basic training, he discovers that 

the capital is being attacked by powerful youkai. The powerful beasts appear and disappear in 

a flash, even the temple priests are having trouble. Does the Great Tengu King of the Gogonji mountain territory 

know anything about these attacks? Do our heroes stand a chance against  these swift and powerful foes?

 What is the reasoning behind all of this carnage?

about the author

Ezra Jonah Jacobs

Author Bio

Ezra Jonah Jacobs was born in 1988 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was raised in the suburbs 45 minutes outside of Atlanta by his father and mother, having one older brother. Growing up in a small country town, there was plenty of farmland and open plains to play and run around, a good place to let his young imagination run wild. When not outside, he was usually reading, drawing pictures, or playing video games. He has also had an interest in martial arts since the age of 6, first gaining an interest after watching a Bruce Lee documentary and seeing a movie by the name of Street Fighter. He started emulating the techniques he saw in these movies. It was also around this age he became interested into becoming an author after hearing his teacher read a book to his class. He would be influenced more by other books throughout grade school either by going to the library or during in-school readings.

In Jr. High School, Jacobs developed an interest in many new different mediums, including manga (Japanese comics) and ancient world literature, such as Don Quixote and Beowulf (already having some world literature in his background the form of Gulliver’s Travels and Aesop’s Fables while in Elementary school). He also first came across ancient stories of kung fu masters with enough strength to slay lions, enough speed to out run a cheetah, and being able to lighten their bodies enough to walk on egg shells. He found these stories rather fascinating and would spend time reading them, while at the same time trying to find more.

During his time in high school, world literature reads had expanded. He also began reading more of a genre called Wuxia (martial arts fiction), in particular Jin Yong, and was greatly fascinated by the scope of the stories as well the detailed battle sequences. To him it was as if he were watching a kung fu movie unfold before his very eyes. He thought this genre was rather interesting, especially since it influenced all of his other favorite mediums as well, even theater.

At college, Jacobs finally made the conscious decision to become an author. It was during this time, after class that he would spend time typing up many different stories. Many being one-shots (one long chapter), while others became full length novels. He began trying different genres and styles out until reading Jin Yong’s “A Smiling, Proud Wanderer”. He then decided to give wuxia a try and began working on a novel of such style. He had developed many early versions of his current stories, eventually editing and reforming them into what they are now. He also began reading many other novels around this time, such as Musashi, even more ancient world literature such as Canterbury Tales, The Divine Comedy, and The Faerie Queen, as well as many other things that would later influence his works.

Jacobs graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia with a Major in Literature and a Minor in Arts. He also studied karate while on campus during these years. As he wrote, he always had in mind to create stories that would give his readers the impressions they were almost watching a movie or a TV show, something interesting and exciting yet bearing the allure of a novel. Jacobs currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. When not writing, he is usually reading from his extensive book collection, taking walks in the city, and training.

skypriests.com


my thoughts:

Good story.  A lot of attention paid to the martial arts.  If you like the martial arts, you should love this story.  I was impressed with the very beginning of the book.  It included a listing of the various martial arts movements.  This made it much easier to follow the story.  

 

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