Announcing our FIRST EVER beyond 5 gold stars review.

The Secret DMS files is a book which should not be missed!  An amazing book written by a pair of amazing writers.  This book is primarily aimed towards 5 graders but everyone who loves a good mystery will love this story.   

I would like to extend a great big THANK YOU to authors Stephanie Robinson and Jessica Haight for giving my 10 year old son a copy of this book to share with his 5th grade class.  I read the book before giving it to him to bring to school (I absolutely LOVE children's books)  He will be writing his own review along with his class when they finish the book.  

Now to explain about a BEYOND 5 STAR REVIEW.  Given to a book that goes beyond the regular 5 star rating.  It excelled in every aspect.  The writing was incredible, the illustrations were perfect- they added to the story without becoming overwhelming.  The book captures the interest of the reader from the beginning and holds it until the very end.     I did not want this book to finish.  I felt a sense of loss when I turned the last page only to discover the book had ended.   Please, Please, Please write more adventures for the DMS club.   

One thing I must mention, visit the website that accompanies the book.  Fairday Morrow is the main character of the story.  If you visit the website, you will discover contests to win books and a weekly riddle to figure out.  Do you have what it takes to be a member of the DMS?

I do not what to delve too much into the book with my review, I don't want to spoil any surprises for readers.  The story was full of fun and suspense.  The friendship between the three DMS members is the kind of friendship that will last a lifetime.  Just do yourself a favor and READ THIS BOOK!!!

The first seven chapters of the book are available at the website.  A link has been provided above (just click on Fairday's name and you will transported into another world.

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Product Description
When Claire Mayfield suddenly finds herself the new heir of a property that has lain vacant for over one hundred years, she becomes leery of the rumors of the hauntings from the three young children who were said to have been murdered there. As Claire explores the manor, she discovers her great uncle's apothecary and traveling medicine show from the late 1800's, and even stumbles upon clues that could help her solve her ancestor's one hundred-year-old murder-mystery; all with a little help from a mischievous young girl who has been dead for over one hundred years.

I love anything by Samantha Bayarr. Claire can handle herself with any ghost. I also liked the romance between her and Ben. A fast paced story worth reading. I wish the author had spent more time developing other characters. We never had the opportunity to really get to know anyone except Claire. All in all, a fun story, a perfect mixture of the paranormal, romance and fun.  

Product Description

Gage Gilbert is an eleven-year-old boy who just happens to have autism, loves Halloween, and has no friends. Although he has always been happy with the safety and security of his family, he longs for a real friend and adventure, not just the ones he makes up in his head. And then he meets Eve.

Eve is a young witch and is from another world called Grimsley Hollow. It's where all magical beings live in safety and peace, but their world is in trouble and Gage is the only one who can help save them from an evil witch who has taken control.

With Eve's help (along with a sarcastic pixy, a trouble-making werewolf, and a half-vampire), Gage travels to Grimsley Hollow and together, they begin a journey that will change them all. It's a dangerous race against evil, where creatures unheard of stalk the land under a harvest moon and monsters that only exist in dreams become real.

Gage wanted friends and adventure, but he had no idea that they would come at such a dangerous price. Can one autistic boy defeat an evil witch and help save his new friends? Travel to Grimsley Hollow and find out!

 MAGIC    MAGIC      MAGIC     MAGIC

What a wonderful tale. Hopefully you can tell by my title, I thought this book was magical. The story revolves around Gage, a young autistic boy who enters the world of Grimsley Hollow to help his friend Eve. Eve is a young witch who is trying to defeat an evil witch. This tale is full of magical creatures like dragons, witches and vampires. Most importantly, the main character is an autistic boy. Things Gage faces on a day to day basis may surprise some of us..

I look forward to more stories about Gage and his Grimsley Hollow friends.

One of the things dear to my heart is our historic buildings.  I am a student of history (as are we all) and I love visiting these landmark buildings.  My guest today is Jeremiah Wright, a writer who visits as as a representative of the Poe House and Museum. 

  THE BALTIMORE POE HOUSE AND MUSEUM

My name is Jerry Wright, and I also write under the pen name WJ
Rosser.  (You can find me on facebook as Walter Jeremiah Rosser.)

I am editing an anthology with the novelist Karen Rigley.  The
anthology is a non-profit endeavor, all of the proceeds of which will
go to the Baltimore Poe House and Museum.  You may not be aware that
the museum has lost it's financing from the city and may have to cease
operations.  Since Edgar Allan Poe lived there, it's a historical
landmark, so the building can't be torn down, but if we don't do
something it won't be accessible to the public at all.

http://literarylandmarkpress.blogspot.com/

Saving our Literary Heritage

The Baltimore Poe House and Museum is a national landmark, which preserves the building from demolition or any modifications that would substantially diminish the landmark nature of the building.  However, access to the house is dependent on funding, and the City of Baltimore faces economic woes that led them to cut off the funding necessary to ensure the museum’s operations.

There are a number of options available to people who care about the literary heritage that Edgar Allan Poe represents to writers and readers, but the primary response seemed to be moaning and complaining.  I thought about it for a moment and chose a different path.  It seemed to me that most authors would recognize the contribution Poe made to their own work, and I decided an anthology of fiction would both honor that contribution and help raise the money to save the museum  Literary Landmark Press was born.

I quickly recruited the fine author Karen Rigley, and she has been indispensible in getting us through the deluge of submissions.  We’ve been fortunate to get some fabulous stories and fabulous poetry, and we’re excited about how the book is shaping up.

You can help.  Go to literarylandmarkpress.blogspot.com and preorder an anthology or two.  You can even preorder books to have sent to the museum for their use.  If you’re a writer, send us something to consider.  Together with the excellent help of the writing community, we can save the Baltimore Poe House and Museum.

With me poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.

Edgar Allan Poe
US short story author, editor, & poet (1809 - 1849)

(Random House)

received from NetGalley for Review

available 12/27/11

336 pages

Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.
And then every day in between . . . She's something else entirely.
Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why
she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.
When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by
one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help
of a few new friends,


MY REVIEW (contains spoilers)
       Different kind of book to read.  The slaying of Preternatural creatures done by the main character, Kali, reminded me somewhat of Supernatural (the WB series about two brothers who slay supernatural creatures.)   The book has plenty of gory, violent scenes while Kali is hunting and fighting the hellhounds that have been put on the endangered list. She hunts all sorts of  preternatural creatures but the focus seems to be on the hellhounds.  
     The hellhounds, dragons, griffins and other creatures are accepted as everyday, not quite so normal, creatures in Kali's world.  Strangely enough, psychic abilities, as exhibited by Kali's friend Skylar are scoffed at and dismissed.
   Many inconsistencies in this book.   First of all, Chimera (the big bad conglomerate creating more creatures) want Kali as a specimen to study but they don't think twice about attempting to kill her and dump her body.  Secondly, Kali spends a lot of time explaining to us that she cannot be killed or feel pain while she is in her 'superhuman' mode however, she is fighting a basilisk (snake) and has to be careful not to look into it's eyes as they are fatal to her.  Fatal, meaning it can kill her.  hmmm   Also, on the pain front, at one point in the book she is faced with a manticore.  It's screaming voice causes excruciating pain and makes her ears bleed..
   OK, enough about that.  I really liked her buddies.  Bethany and Sklyar.  These two stole the show.  Their constant arguing and bickering was fun to read.   There is also a somewhat warped romance for Kali, his name is Zev and he's, well...I'll let you just read the book and figure out what he is for yourself. 
    I look forward the the next book.  The cliffhanger at the end was almost surely left to provide an opening for book two.  

     

A big thank you to Carole at thelifeoffiction.blogspot.com

for the giveway.  Received it today.  Can't wait to read this book!  I grew up

in New England and a trip to Salem every summer was a standard

part of our summer vacation from school.  I love anything to do 

with the witch history!

Again, thank you Carole!!! :-)