Mary Ting. A new release by this stunning author.

Mary Ting ladies and Gentlemen.

Have a look at the trailor for her soon to be released book under an alias....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Z9xLucouc&feature=em-upload_owner

Book Review of Goddess (Starcrossed Trilogy #3) by Josephine Angelini

Goddess by Josephine Angelini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review 6******

This is the third and final book in the Starcrossed trilogy. I loved it!

Helen Hamilton is a fantastic character! I loved her when I first met her. She is extremely beautiful, thanks to "that face" (Helen of Troy). She is about to face the hardest test (to stay away from Lucas) and a battle with the Titans. Will she be able to control her new powers before she and her friends get hurt or killed?

I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this book! I pre-ordered it as soon as it became available, because I knew it would be epic! I fell in love with all the characters in the first two books, and I wondered what trials and tribulations would affect them in this one. I was completely hooked from the first page, as it continues just after the ending of the second book. The love triangle between Helen, Lucas and Orion is intense. However, I kept routing for Lucas, even though he's Helen's cousin (or is he?...). Both of these boys are extremely hot! There is also a new character who has Hector in a tizz! I liked her (Andy) very much. I found her to be a nice inclusion to an already fantastic group of people.
This book is an action packed roller coaster ride! It had me in tears one moment, and biting my finger nails the next! The Titans are a vindictive and nasty bunch of Gods! But it's the betrayal by one of the group that shocked me the most! His death filled me with sadness, as he was one of the most likable characters, but when it's war, death is inevitable. The ending was suitable (trying not to give too much away here! ), and left me glad to know these fabulous people! I feel sad now that the trilogy is finished, but I can always visit them again when I feel the need!

Josephine Angelini has written a fabulous trilogy filled with Greek Gods and Goddesses, not to mention the Kracken! I have already added her to my favourite authors list, and look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I HIGHLY recommend this book (and series) as a "MUST READ" if you love YA Romance novels filled with strong characters and/or Greek Gods and Goddesses! - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Jumper (Time Travelers) by Jeff LaFerney

Jumper by Jeff LaFerney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is an exciting time traveling adventure from one of my favorite authors! I loved it!

Cole Flint is a fantastic character. Although he has spent 3 years in jail, I think he was wrongly prosecuted! I really liked Cole and I felt that he had been given a whole heap of bad karma! When he finds out that he's a "jumper", someone able to time travel, and he is given a mission to protect Hannah Carpenter and the Staff of Moses, he is thrown into a dangerous adventure!

Hannah Carpenter is also a fantastic character! She is a normal teenager. Or is she? I liked her sassy comebacks, and she is one of the bravest characters I know! She is extremely likable. She also has a grizzly bear called Teddy as a pet!

This book is told mostly from both Cole's and Hannah's point of view, but there are other characters that have their say too. This story could be a political thriller if you take out the paranormal aspects. However, the paranormal aspects i.e. the time travel, gives this story a fantastic twist. I don't know how the author kept the storyline flowing so well with all the different time lines. Some readers may be put off by the jumping backwards and forwards, but this is an action packed adventure that kept me hooked from the first page! There are meddling angels, a despotic King and not forgetting Teddy, Hannah's pet grizzly, and the Staff of Moses! I would love to see this as a TV movie! The characters are all so lifelike that I was expecting Cole and Hannah to come riding though my house! The political intrigue adds a darkness to the story, but doesn't seem so far fetched!
This book ends with some intriguing questions remaining unanswered, and that makes me anxious to read the next book in the series!

I have read other books by Jeff LaFerney, but I think this may be one of his best books so far! I love the way his stories flow! They are fast paced, but extremely fluid.

I highly recommend this as a "MUST READ" if you love YA or Paranormal genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Control by M.S. Willis

Control by M.S. Willis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a romance novel with a very dark edge to it. However, I loved it!

Paige Stone is a wonderful character. She is very strong willed and has an independent streak a mile wide. I liked her very much, but there were times I wanted to shake her! I can understand why she shut off her heart. If I had been brought up in a home, run by her parents, for abused women and children as she was, it would make me lose faith in the male of the species too! However, when she meets Daemon, her walls begin to break.

Daemon Pierce is an enigmatic character. I was on the fence about him at the beginning, but as the story unfolded, I think I've fallen for him myself! He is a dangerous character - one I wouldn't want to cross, but his pursuit of Paige had my heart pounding for other reasons besides fear!

I was unsure about reading this book at first, but I was completely hooked from the first page! The characters are extremely lifelike. As I previously said, this is a romance novel, but it has a very dark and real edge to it that took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride. This book is told from Paige's point of view, and there are flashbacks to her childhood and her first love, Buddy. These flashbacks are sometimes sad, sometimes happy. They gave me an insight as to why Paige shut off her heart - she was protecting it from being hurt again. I really felt for the 5 year old Paige, as she loved and lost for the first time. First love really never leaves you.
Paige and Daemon make a fantastic couple, but there are some other fantastic characters in this book too. I loved meeting David, Alex and Annie, Paige's room mates. I laughed at some of the scenes. I found David extremely likable. I loved his sense of humour! It's a bit disappointing that he's already spoken for - his boyfriend would probably laugh at me though!
Annie is a bit of a bubble head when it comes to picking boyfriends, and she sure picks the wrong ones!
Alex is another great character. I actually felt bad for Alex when Paige meets Daemon, but the heart wants what the heart wants!

M.S. Willis has written a fantastic contemporary romance! I am now looking forward to reading the next book, Conflict.

This book contains scenes of abuse and violence, and also scenes of a sexual nature (although not overly explicit or erotic), which I do not recommend for younger readers or those of a sensitive nature. However, I highly recommend this book if you love contemporary romance, older YA or New Adult genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of The Bayshore Mysteries: Intruders on Battleship Island by Jerrye Sumrall

The Bayshore Mysteries: (Intruders On Battleship Island # 1). by Jerrye Sumrall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic beginning to a mystery series for children aged 9 to 12. I absolutely loved it!

Jeff Douglas is a fantastic character. He is a curious eleven year old. I loved his inquisitiveness and bravery. When he sees some unusual activity on the nearby Battleship Island, he does what every curious boy does - he investigates.

This is an exciting mystery/adventure that captured my attention from the first page! I love mysteries - trying to solve the puzzles to find out who, what, when and how is a passion of mine. When I started to read this book, I was reminded of the mystery stories I loved to read as a child, mostly the Famous Five, Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys series. I realised that I miss reading these types of books. Note to self: Read more mysteries in future! I love the action/adventure/danger aspect of this story. The author has created a cast of characters, who are normal every day boys thrown into a dangerous adventure where they have to pit their wits against a couple of thugs. The boys, Jeff, Dan, his brother Mike and Jeff's cousin Stanley are extremely likable. The story is peppered with history from the Civil War, but I found it extremely interesting, as I'm not American and had not learnt a lot about that time period whilst at school. However, it does not slow the story down. In fact, the opposite is true. I found this book to be a fast paced roller coaster ride of action and adventure. I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the series, The Secret Graveyard.

Jerrye Sumrall has written a fantastic mystery that kept me glued to the pages! I'm adding him to my ever expanding "favourite authors" list!

I think this book is aimed at boys, but I highly recommend this book to children (boys and girls alike) between the ages of 9 and 12. However, I think that children as young as 7 may enjoy this as a bedtime story. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox

The Magic Warble by Victoria Simcox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic children's book for middle grade age range. I loved it!

Kristina Kingsley is a fantastic character. She may not be the most popular girl in school, but I actually liked her. She reminded me of me - I was never the popular girl either. However, where we differ is that she is a lot braver than me! She is given an unusual gift, and she finds herself on an adventure of a lifetime!

This is a fantastic children's fantasy novel! There are some wonderful characters in this book. The most likable of them are Clover and Looper (a pair of sibling fairies), Prince Werrien, and Kristina's pet rat, Raymond. This book is also filled with some really nasty characters; The main ones being Queen Sentiz and her gross Zelbocks. There are also enemies that turn into friends and friends who turn into enemies.
I was completely engrossed in this tale! It is full of danger and adventure! In a way, it reminded me of Tolken's Lord Of The Rings, as there is an object (The magic Warble) and a dangerous mission to deliver it to it's rightful place. I loved the subtle humour that the author used to great effect; it lightened the mood, so that the story didn't take a too dark a turn. The story is also told from several character's points of view, which gives a well rounded feel to the book and brought the characters alive. There are also some pictures sketched on a few selected pages to reinforce the story. These pictures are well drawn and show the characters just as described, and how I imagined them without the pictures!

Victoria Simcox has written an amazing children's adventure book! Her writing style is fast paced, but not overly so as to feel rushed. Her attention to detail with regards to the description of the characters, scenery and clothing is exceptional. I could "see" them so clearly in my minds eye! I am now looking forward to reading the sequel, The Black Shard!

I think this story is aimed at girls, but I recommend this book to everyone (adults included) who love fairies, gnomes, dwarves and talking animals in their fantasy novels. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of The Pram by Betty Woodcock

The Pram by Betty Woodcock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is an intriguing horror story that gripped me from the first page and kept me hooked!

Carrie MacIntyre is an intriguing character. She is a proud mother and a soon to be Grandmother. I liked her, but found her inner monologues a bit rambling and long winded. However, I didn't like her attitude towards "Ghost Baby". She seemed cold and uncaring. Yes, she felt terror that she was losing her mind, but she didn't even consider the baby ghost's feelings.

The other characters were also rather annoying. I found Carrie's daughter whiny and very selfish. Her son-in-law was no better. Gervaise was the least annoying. I actually liked him, but his amused and humouring attitude felt a bit condescending to me.

I must admit that I don't read a lot of books in the Horror genre, but I was intrigued with the synopsis. This book is told in first person, and gives an insight into Carrie's thoughts and emotions. This was a suspenseful read that had me turning the pages! As I am not a mother, I have never experienced what Carrie and other mothers have - the joys and pain of motherhood or of being a grandparent. However, I can understand and sympathize with Carrie's experience. The pram seems to be the catalyst to a supernatural ability for Carrie to see ghosts. That pram has a lot to answer for! The horror that unfolds sent chills down my spine! Unfortunately, it was the ending that disappointed me; up until then, I would have given this story a 5 because I was enjoying it. I'm all for cliched endings, but I felt that it was an easy way out, and a rather abrupt one at that. However, I'll leave you to make your own decision.

Betty Woodcock has written a horror story that was gripping and suspenseful. I liked her writing style, which flowed well. I may consider reading more of her books in the future.

I recommend this book if you love horror, suspense or thriller genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Perdition (A Goddess of Night Novella #2) by Ley Mesina

Perdition by Ley Mesina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the second novella in the series. I loved it!

Lily Westbrook is part vampire and part witch. I loved her character when I first met her in Reborn. She is a very strong willed young lady, who is still coming to terms with her destiny - that of being the Goddess of Night.

This is another page turning read by this author! The story doesn't begin directly after the end of the first book, but picks up six months later. The action and ever present danger had me sitting on the edge of my seat! This may only be a short story, but it completely captured my attention.
This book sees Lily travelling to the Underworld in search of some answers. While she is doing this, Xander, Drew and Roxy are on a mission of their own. This story is told from several points of view, and is very descriptive. The characters came alive for me, and I could "see" them quite clearly in my minds eye. I felt like I was watching a movie! If there is one negative thing I could say about this book, it would be that it was too short! I must admit that when I reached the end of the book, I was screaming "Nooooo! It's can't end like that!" in my mind! I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

Ley Mesina has written an amazing series that contains some fantastic characters! Her writing style is fast paced and fluid, and I am most definitely looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love YA or Paranormal Romance genres. - Lynn Worton

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The Liars' Gospel: A Novel by Naomi Alderman.

The Liars' Gospel: A Novel by Naomi Alderman.

Blurb

This is the story of Yehoshuah, who wandered Roman-occupied Judea giving sermons and healing the sick. Now, a year after his death, four people tell their stories. His mother grieves, his friend Iehuda loses his faith, the High Priest of the Temple tries to keep the peace, and a rebel named Bar-Avo strives to bring that peace tumbling down.

It was a time of political power-play and brutal tyranny. Men and women took to the streets to protest. Dictators put them down with iron force. In the midst of it all, one inconsequential preacher died. And either something miraculous happened, or someone lied.

Viscerally powerful in its depictions of the period - massacres and riots, animal sacrifice and human betrayal - The Liars' Gospel makes the oldest story entirely new

 My Review

This book written from the point of view of four very controversial characters in Biblical times drew me from the start.

The experiences of Mary, Judas and Barabbas really kept me turning the pages and made me see the times in which Christ walked this earth.

The bloody and cruel reality of Roman tyranny was never glossed over and made the grit of the book all the more real for me.

I loved the change in points of view but felt that the latter half of the book became somewhat to politically driven.

This said this is a brilliant book.  One I think that if you like Christian Fiction, then this is a must read.

Do not however think of rainbows and kittens.  This is far too real a novel to have an idealized idea.

Truly a book I would recommend.

WaAr

Star recommendation -- ****

Book Review of Mr. Softee (A Dev Haskell Novel) by Mike Faricy

Mr. Softee by Mike Faricy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review 6******

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is another Dev Haskell novel. I LOVED IT!

Dev Haskell is a skirt chasing, beer drinking, lovable Private Investigator. I love him to bits, but sometimes I want to throttle him too! I honestly don't know if he has a guardian angel looking after him, but he seems to get into trouble at a drop of a hat!

In this page turner of a book, he is hired by Mr. Softee, an Ice Cream mogul, to provide protection. What happens next is a wild ride of explosions, car chases, mistaken identity, double cross and murder!
This is a fantastic story that had me shaking my head at Dev's antics at one moment, and marveling at how someone can have such bad luck the next! I was hooked from the first page! I loved meeting Tony "Dog" Colli. He is decidedly crazy, but I can understand why Dev is his friend; His hygiene habits leave a lot to be desired though! *shudder!!*
I am most definitely looking forward to reading more of Dev's adventures in the future!

Mike Faricy is a fantastic author! I love his writing style. It is fast paced, but it is also witty. He is one of my favourite authors, and I will read any of his books in the future.

I highly recommend this book if you love detective fiction that is highly addictive! - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Reborn (A Goddess of Night Novella Book 1) by Ley Mesina

Reborn by Ley Mesina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a page turning read from start to finish! I loved it!

Lily Westbrook is an interesting character! She is aware that she is a half witch/half vampire, but she doesn't know the rest of it! She is a woman with a very powerful bloodline and a destiny to match; that of being the Goddess of Night. I liked her very much, and although I have only met her in print, she felt real to me!

This is an exciting novella! As I said, I found this book a page turner from the first page! This story is mainly told from Lily's point of view, but there are several characters in this short story that also have their say. This gives the story some depth to it. However, I did feel that I was literally dumped into the middle of a story. It was a bit of a shock, but that jolt gave me an insight into Lily's character I would have missed otherwise; She tends to be a risk taker and a bit hot headed. However, as she learns more of her destiny, she starts to think before leaping into dangerous situations. I liked seeing her mature in this way.
I also liked meeting the other characters in the book, especially Lily's Aunt Trudy, Arthur, Nathaniel, Xander and Drew. However, there are two characters that I didn't like. They were Samuel and Alexander. These two characters define the meaning of "bad guys". One's a witch, and the other is a vampire, but both of them made my skin crawl! There are more than a few twists in this short story, but the cliffhanger ending has me wanting to read the next novella as soon as possible!

Ley Mesina has written an amazing novella that captured my imagination, and brought the characters to life! Her story is fast paced, but not rushed, and full of danger and excitement!

I highly recommend this novella if you love YA, paranormal romances or stories about witches and vampires! - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Beyond (Crossroads Saga #3) by Mary Ting

Beyond by Mary Ting
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Crossroads Saga. I loved it!

Claudia Emerson is a fantastic character. I have come to regard her as a friend. She also has a strong personality - she has a stubborn streak a mile wide! She is now training to be a venator, a nephilim demon hunter. But she feels that there is something missing, but cannot remember what.

I was very happy to meet all the characters again, as I have come to think of them as being friends. However, I had been incredibly upset when I read the ending of the second book - I had been left in tears! When I was offered the chance to read the third book, I jumped at it! I wanted to find out what Michael thought he was doing! I know he did what he did out of love, but it left me (and him) heartbroken!
In the meantime, the other Alkins are back in Crossroads. I absolutely missed Devlin! He's a honey! I love his sense of humour. However, it was somewhat subdued in this story; and with good reason! This is an action packed read that is full of intrigue and danger! I did feel somewhat sad for Austin, as his feelings for Claudia went unrequited. However, when you have found your soulmate - and even if you cannot remember him, as Claudia did - then no-one else will do. Micheal is absolutely heartbroken about what he had to do, but I think his love for Claudia made his decision for him. There are a few new characters in this book. They have their own secrets, and finding them out is a big surprise! The ending has left me wanting to read the next book in the series RIGHT NOW!

Mary Ting is an amazing author! Her characters are extremely lifelike and likable. I added her to my favourite authors list a while back. Her books are a joy to read (when they're not making you cry!). They are fast paced, take you on a roller coaster ride of emotion and flow beautifully!

I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love YA, Paranormal Romance, Angels, Demons, Nephilim and Alkins. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Dark Sentinels Book One: Sable by Dariel Raye

Sable by Dariel Raye
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic paranormal romance! I loved it!

Dr. Akila Marshall is a fantastic character. She is a vet with a soft heart. When she takes in an injured wolf, she doesn't realise what fate has in store for her.

Sable is a wolf shifter. He is a wonderful character. He is an alpha male through and through! He is loving, and exceedingly protective of his family. He has been looking for his sister, who had disappeared whilst investigating a case. His search lands him in the caring hands of Akila.

This is one short novella that I wish was a little bit longer! I was completely captured by the story, and hooked by the first page! I have read many shapeshifter romance books over the years, and I must admit that I'm a sucker for them! How they can change form and still manage to keep their human psyche intact is a mystery to me, but still, the idea enthralls me! Perhaps it's my primitive brain at work again!
This story is told from the points of view of both Akila and Sable. I loved this, because it enables the reader to get an idea of their thoughts and feelings. I was a bit surprised when I reached the end of the book, because it didn't take me too long to read it. However, there was a lot of action and danger in this 60 page book! Not to mention the HOT bedroom scene! I am now looking forward to reading book two in the series!

Dariel Raye has written a fantastic paranormal romance that is not only fast paced, but it flowed beautifully too!

I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to the explicit nature of some of the scenes. However, I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal romance or sexy shapeshifters! - Lynn Worton


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Book Review of The Wildest Place by Kyla Phillips

The Wildest Place by Kyla Phillips
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a short fantasy novella. I found the synopsis intriguing, so I decided to give it a try, as I love fantasy.

Sala is an intriguing character. However, I felt that the book was not quite long enough to understand her better. I did like her though! I was intrigued with the idea of being bonded with animals. Her bondmates are: a lion called Mya, a dolphin called Cai and an Orca called Nayla. When Sala's bondmates are killed, she and her ex-partner investigate.

Derulo is an extremely intriguing character! I found him very sexy! He's the equivalent of either a policeman or a special agent. I did like him a lot!

I must admit that I was a bit disappointed that there was no hanky panky between these two characters! I did feel that there was a spark there, but the author didn't go down the romance route. Rather, she stuck to business. Being a short story, I can understand the reasoning. However, I felt this book could have been a lot longer, and a fantastic paranormal romance. I'm sure there is a lot more to the story between Sala and Derulo! I had a feeling of slight disappointment when the story ended; I wanted to keep reading! I also had a question or three bouncing around my brain: Would Sala find a new bondmate, or are they only allowed three for life? How and when were bondmates chosen? Where can I get one (or three)?

Kyla Phillips has written an intriguing fantasy, but, unfortunately, this story could have been so much more. There is lots of potential in this author. I encourage her to keep writing and perfecting her craft.

I recommend this book if you love fantasy or paranormal genres. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Beautiful Creatures (Beautiful Creatures Series #1) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I decided to get myself a copy of this series due to the hype and the release of the movie (which I have not watched yet).

Lena Duchannes is a very powerful witch, and character that I wanted to strangle! I am very sorry, but I found her extremely annoying and whiny! Her "woe is me" attitude grated on my nerves! I think that she has a lot of growing up to do. I hope she does, in the remaining books in the series. Granted, she's only 15 (going on 16), but still...!

Ethan Wate, on the other hand, was an extremely interesting character. I liked him very much. He is a human thrust into a supernatural world. I loved his almost laid back attitude about finding out that there are witches living in the vicinity. He has a wonderful sense of humour, and I love the camaraderie between him and his best friend, Link. I did feel sorry about his relationship (or lack of one) with his father.

This story is told from Ethan's point of view, and is a riveting read. I struggled to put it down, and can understand why it is so popular. However, there were points in the story where I was wishing that it would hurry up. The pace was a bit erratic in my opinion. One moment it would flow wonderfully; the next, it would screech to a slow crawl, only to pick up speed again.
I actually downloaded this as an audio book to begin with, but I found that I didn't like to listen to it in short bursts, especially when going to and from work on public transport. I wanted to keep listening to it, but alas I had to work! I did enjoy the narrator's voice, and he kept me hooked! So, I also purchased this in print for my Kindle. I could then read along with the narrator if I wanted to. This reminded me of the books I used to get as a young girl, which came with an audio tape (showing my age here! :P).
It would be interesting to now watch the movie, to see what they kept, what they changed or missed out. I did want to watch the movie when it first came out, but due to unforeseen circumstances I was unable to. All in all, this was a fascinating story, full of a rich history of the South in America, re-enactment battles, love, witches, destiny and danger! If it wasn't for my dislike of Lena's character, and the erratic flow, I would have given this a solid 5*'s.

Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl seem to make a great writing team. I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the series! I just hope the erratic flow is smoothed out.

I recommend this book if you love YA or Paranormal Romances, or are fans of The Twilight Saga. - Lynn Worton

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Book Review of Twerp by Mark Goldblatt

Twerp by Mark Goldblatt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Review 6******

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

WOW! Let me first say that this a fantastic younger YA story! I loved it!

Julian Twerski (Twerp to his sister and friends) is a fantastic character! He is a typical 12 (going on 13) year old. He is very thoughtful and bright. Unfortunately, one mistake leads to a school suspension, and a project that really brings this character to life! I liked him very much!

I was a bit unsure about this book when I first started it. It felt more like a memoir than a children's book. However, this book hooked me from the second page! This story follows Julian as he and his friends go about their daily business (school and play). But, he is reluctant to get to the reason as to why he was suspended from school. Given this assignment by his English teacher, Julian reveals his inner-self. His anecdotes are witty and had me smiling and giggling in places. Julian's reason for his reluctance to tell his story of the mistake was understandable. It was a terrible mistake, but a mistake nevertheless. He learnt from it, and that's the most important point. I love stories like this - with morals in them. Without morals, or at least subtle warnings, how are children meant to learn what is right or wrong? Granted, they could find out for themselves, but people (including themselves) may get hurt (either emotionally or physically) in the process. I think that today's society has lost some of these morals, and they need to be re-taught. This book would certainly help with that!

Mark Goldblatt has written an amazing coming of age story that reminded me of my childhood (although I hadn't had the same upbringing, or made the same mistakes). It is a moving story of growing up, peer pressure and bullies. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Julian's journal, and will be on the lookout for more of this author's work in the future.

I highly recommend this book to not only readers in the 8 to 12 age range, but to adults too! - Lynn Worton

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