Picture Book Play
By Kimberly M. Hutmacher
A to Z Kids Stuff
Copyright 2004
ISBN: none
Format: eBook ~ CD
73 Pages
$5.50 eBook ~ $9.84 + shipping CD
Teacher/Parent Resource
Pre-K ~ Grade One
Are you at a loss as to what to do with your class after you have read a favorite book? Need a story to go with your theme? Picture Book Play provides extensions for 24 of the most popular children’s books, both old and new. It features classic books such as Corduroy and Harold and the Purple Crayon, and the "new classics like The Napping House and Stellaluna, which can be found on most teachers book shelves or readily available at the library. With each story the author provides a brief synopsis, several activities or discussion starters, printable activity sheets and links to websites with literature extension activities.
Picture Book Play is a useful resource for busy teachers and parents who would like to use fun, educational activities to make children’s literature more meaningful. The time consuming research has already been done for you, just print and go. A great addition to your e-resource shelf.
~4 Out of 5 Shiny Red Apples
Dee Gentle, GottaWriteNetwork.com Book Reviewer
December 5, 2004
Aphrodite’s Flame
By Julie Kenner
LoveSpell
Contemporary Romance
Aug. 2004
ISBN: 0-505-52575-5
338 pages
$6.99
Isole Frost was thrilled with her new promotion as a Level V Re-Assimilation Counselor of Protectors. She felt she earned the promotion after two years of interviewing and analyzing low-level Outcasts to determine if they could be returned into the Superhero system. She believed that her promotion had nothing to do with her uncle being the High Elder. Putting her on edge is the fact that Hieronymous, Mr. Black, the most notorious Outcast of the Protector race, was her father's benefactor. Not a good thing to know.
Mordichai had been allowed back into the Council. Being the son of Hieronymous and a former Outcast himself, he had to prove he was a protector of mortals. His current mission was to follow Clyde, the Outcast hiding in the shadows. Seems the bad boy was Hieronymous' right-hand man when a particular course of action was necessary. Tailing Clyde could possibly lead to a protector providing information to the Outcasts and Mordi believed the man in question was a respected protector.
Under the Washington Monument was Secret Protector Headquarters. This is where Isole punched the clock 9-5. It is here that she feels obligated to inform the council of her father's association with Mr. Black, who is actually Hieronymous. For a time, though, she keeps the truth to herself. It was a difficult choice, but necessary. To complicate matters, she learns that Hieronymous is now her candidate for re-assimilation into the Council. Was he sincere? Or was this a ploy to undermine the Council's efforts for mortal recognition? Did he intend to infiltrate the Council and sabotage the treaty negotiations?
Will Mordi and Isole join forces to stop Hieronymous before he puts his devious plan into motion? Is romance possible between these two very different people? Will Mordi ever be respected?
APHRODITE’S FLAME reminds me of the Batman and Catwoman movies where super heroes live among mortals. By day they are your average citizens contributing to society. By night they are accepting daring missions and putting their lives on the line fighting villains on our turf. The conflicts of Isole and Mordi's lives, as well as the other protectors, are creating a balance between family life and mortal defense. It must be a hell of a battle to conquer. This particular book is part of a series of which I've read several for review. Julie's other books in the series include Aphrodite's Secret, Aphrodite's Passion and Aphrodite's Kiss. Two things I love about this book: the Official Business letter presented to Outcasts and those half mortal and that the council has a URL…www.superherocentral.com. In the book, that is.
Four out of five invisibility cloaks
Denise Fleischer, gottawritenetwork.com
January 19, 2005
Somebody to Love
Kate Rothwell
Zebra, November 2004
ISBN 0-8217-7755-6
A tale of love, pride and suspense…
Kate Rothwell's "Somebody to Love" follows the exploits of the Calverson family, this time centering on Timona Calverson's worldly and successful brother, Griffin, and her best friend - Araminta.
Araminta Woodhall, the Calverson's family cook, left to work with Linder Kane, a wealthy, albeit cruel man who keeps his mistress, Olivia, captive in his house, one he repeatedly beats into submission. Araminta realizes Kane's treacherous side all too soon, yet stays for two reasons: one is to save enough money to open her own restaurant; the second is her desire to help Olivia escape Kane. If she can only convince Olivia to leave...
Griffin Calverson has his reasons for being isolated. He has no mother. His father hunts dinosaur bones and has no interest in overseeing the family wealth. It was up to Griffin to keep a watchful eye over his younger sister until she married. A man of many worldly successes, Griffin learns that Linder Kane, a deceitful man, might be trying to steal his company.
Since the two of them have not met, Griffin visits Kane's home, presumably to dine and gamble, but secretly to learn what he can about his ruthless business opponent. The rumor that Araminta had become Griffin's cook becomes truth when Kane insists his cook make an appearance to accept the crowd's compliments.
Griffin, who can't afford to have her reveal his identity, seeks her out. When he confronts her, Araminta recalls the growing attraction she had for the handsome brother of her best friend when she worked for the Calversons. And although Griffin was also attracted to Araminta, he knows society would frown upon his marriage to a woman of color and develops his own agenda - that of wooing the sultry beauty into becoming his mistress.
Araminta, a strong willed, independent woman, will do whatever it takes to help the people she loves. Her desire to aide her helpless friend, Olivia, forces Araminta to seek Griffin's help. Despite her growing attraction to Griffin over the course of several meetings, she refuses to become his mistress. She wants marriage, though she too realizes the impossibility of achieving that goal with Griffin.
Deceit and danger from Griffin's competitor, Kane, quickly ensnares the young couple. When Griffin is attacked by Kane's henchmen and recovers at Araminta's home, he learns the truth of her parentage, the obstacles she has overcome, and begins to realize how much she means to him, especially when one of Griffin's friends, a police detective, proposes marriage to Araminta.
Will Araminta and Olivia escape Kane's clutches? Will Kane destroy Griffin and his empire? Most important, will Araminta sacrifice her long-standing principles to remain by Griffin's side, reach her goal of owning a restaurant, or settle for marriage to a policeman?
"Somebody to Love" is a well-written novel of two people who share a common enemy. The plot is swift-paced, the characters fully-developed with individual challenges and goals that slowly merge to a thrilling ending. Kate Rothwell's "Somebody to Love" is precisely that - a wonderful tale of love, pride and greed.
Linda Morelli Award-winning author of FIERY SURRENDER and SHADOW OF DOUBT
Vampire Seductress
By Lance Panzer
Books Unbound ePublishing Co.
ISBN: 1-59201-007-5
March 2003
eBook
348 Paperback book pages $4.95 USD
Vampire Horror/Erotica
Setting: Milwaukee, present time
After the law firm’s annual Christmas party, Ross Sherman, and Jane Hampton, the firm’s legal secretary, decided to check out the action at Nitro, a local nightclub. When a mysterious and dangerously alluring women catches Ross eye he is unable to stop the bloody series of events that are set in motion. Simone, a vampire femme, has set her sights on Ross and nothing will stand in her way. A battle ensues and she whisks him away leaving a trail of carnage.
After she turns Ross, we are privy to the most intimate details of his physical and emotional transformation from mortal to immortal and we are given a glimpse of Simone and her remarkable history. A danger lurks in the shadows and their mated bliss is threatened by an unknown enemy, The Other; but such is the life of a vampire.
Vampire Seductress is at once sensual and brutal. The reader is taken on a macabre journey into vampire subculture where you check your inhibitions and morals at the door of the lair. I was fascinated by Mr. Panzer’s ability to pull the reader into the depths of the story; no matter how horrific the story became, I had to know what would happen next. If you are a fan of the vampire genre or just love a good dose of horror, check out this author’s debut novel.
Note: Sensitive readers may find some graphic scenes disturbing.
4 ½ Out of 5 Fangs
Dee Gentle, GottaWriteNetwork.com Book Reviewer
dgentle@cfl.rr.com
10/24/04
