Review: DragonArt Evolution by J "Neon Dragon" Peffer

Book Blurb:  A dragon artist’s guide to better drawing

Magnificent and powerful creatures, these dragons be, with bone-crushing jaws and razor-sharp teeth, it’s difficult to tell whether you’re dealing with a hotheaded nature or a wise and benevolent beast. Therein lies the trouble with drawing them from life. Make your dragon portraits more authentic (while avoiding loss of life and limbs) with the help of this guide. A follow-up to the fiercely popular DragonArt, this book features ALL NEW dragons and EVEN MORE detailed dragon anatomy instruction. 

· 60+ step-by-step demonstrations cover a variety of dragons, including medieval, fairy and sea-dwelling varieties

· In-depth advice for drawing every part of the beast—eyes, ears, horns, wings, scale patterns, limbs and more

· Extra tips and tricks provided by your dragon guide, Dolosus

It’s everything you need to draw a variety of dragons—from enormous, ancient beasts with broken scales and fractured horns, to sleek, sinuous creatures with leathery skin and fancy frills. So steel your heart, prepare your trusty inking pen, and venture forth, brave artist … unleash the ferocious, extraordinary, original beasts that dwell within your fiery imaginings!

***NOTE: This review originally appeared at The Book Lovers Inc blog as a dual review. The review was actually two sided of myself, the school teacher and the book reviewer, working together. I have reproduced the review as it originally appeared. My review name at that blog is The Charmed Lover. ***

My/Our Thoughts:  
The book came with a flyer describing it as a tool for increasing creativity and quoted some studies concerning children's creativity. I teach (pre-school) so that jumped out at me. Perusing the book, I had two very distinct reactions: my teacher's voice was saying one thing and my reader's voice was saying something else so I decided to do this review using both voices.

Why did you decide to read DragonArt Evolution?

Bea The Teacher: My interest was immediately caught by the publisher's claim that the book could help counter loss of chidlren's creativity due to the amount of time they spend watching tv. That topic is a hot button at my own school so I was curious to see how, or if, the book met the publishers claims. Additionally, I'm of the school of thought that it's the process, not the product, that matters.

The Charmed Lover: I have always loved dragons, they are one of my favorite mythological creatures but I can't draw worth a darn. Even my stick figures are sad little creatures. The teacher part of me knows that I shouldn't care so much about the result but I get  frustrated nonetheless. I hoped that I might be able to draw something resembling a dragon.

What were your expectations before you started the book?

Bea The Teacher: I worried that it would be a paint, or in this case, draw by the numbers book.

The Charmed Lover: I had the same worry and also worried that the illustrators pictures were so gorgeous that someone trying to draw their own dragon might feel intimidated.

When you started reading the book what was your first impression?

Bea The Teacher: I loved the illustrations! The colors, the details, everything was so gorgeous and the faces have such emotion to them.

The Charmed Lover: I felt the same. I spent a long time just looking at the final products and enjoying their loveliness.

Final Verdict? Does the book meet it's goal?

Bea The Teacher: Yes and no. I think it definitely meets the author's stated goal of helping the reader learn to draw dragons. Does it meet the publisher's goal? Well, that's harder to measure but I'm doubtful. I do think that the book will encourage the readers both to practice and to experiment. Peffer gives not only detailed steps for each dragon and illustration but she explains the reasons behind each step and the book has mini lessons on topics such as shading and perspective. If this is the readers first introduction to thinking about art that way, it might encourage them to keep experimenting and to seek out instruction.

I really like that Peffer continually encourages the reader to experiment and to draw their own dragons; her illustrations are both a goal and a starting point. She never makes the reader feel like their work is lesser if it doesn't look like her finished product.

It's definitely not a draw by the numbers sort of book so it may end up encouraging some creativity after all.

The Charmed Lover: I still can't draw a dragon, or a decent stick figure, but I liked this book. The author is very encouraging and frequently reassures the reader that the desired results take time and practice. She encourages the reader to make their own dragons, not just the ones that she has drawn in the book. She gives detailed instructions, complete with explanations, and offers mini art lessons on such topics as anatomy, the color wheel and even geography ie how a dragon's environment would affect it's build. The book is fun, never dry, humorous and a joy to look at even if you never try to draw.

Publisher: Impact

Release Date:  August 19, 2010

Review: Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros

Book Blurb:  Abigail Donovan has a lot of stuff she should be doing. Namely writing her next novel. A bestselling author who is still recovering from a near Pulitzer Prize win and the heady success that follows Oprah’s stamp of approval, she is stuck at Chapter Five and losing confidence daily. But when her publicist signs her up for a Twitter account, she’s intrigued. What’s all the fuss?

Taken under the wing of one of her Twitter followers, “MarkBaynard"—a quick witted, quick-typing professor on sabbatical—Abby finds it easy to put words out into the world 140 characters at a time. And once she gets a handle on tweets, retweets, direct messages, hashtags, and trends, she starts to feel unblocked in writing and in life. After all, why should she be spending hours in her apartment staring at her TweetDeck and fretting about her stalled career when Mark is out there traveling the world and living? 


Or is he?

Told almost entirely in tweets and DMs, Goodnight Tweetheart is a truly modern take on a classic tale of love and loss—a Griffin and Sabine for the Twitter generation.

My Thoughts: 

Although I'm not a big fan of Medeiros's work, the premise of this book was intriguing, and I do enjoy reading romances so I decided to try it.I did have some hesitation about the use of Twitter as a setting.  That seemed as if it could be really great or really awful.

It actually falls somewhere in between. Abby's agent signs her up for a Twitter account in hopes of connecting Abby with her readers and also in hopes of keeping Abby's name out there.  It's been five years since Abby's first novel was published and she's stuck. Her second novel is overdue, she has writers block, and when she makes a public appearance, the turnout is small to none. She's hesitant at first to try Twitter but goes on and looks to see what all of the fuss is about.

The first person to respond to her is Mark Baynard, who asks "R U a twitter virgin?" Now, if I received that, I'd have immediately gone looking for how to block or ignore him as a spammer. But she responds and they begin to flirt. They quickly move to DM's or direct messages which can only be seen by the recipient. Much of the book is written in the form of their DM's and occasional tweets, and it's here that Medeiros chooses not to show Twitter in action. Most people on Twitter don't use DM's as their primary means of communication on there. The whole point of Twitter is to share publicly what are you doing and saying. Had the romance been conducted in the public timeline of Twitter, followers of both Mark and Abby could have provided commentary which would have added another layer of depth to the story. Additionally, even the messages are not formatted properly, many being over the 140 character limit. There are ways to get around that limit, but again, that's not acknowledged or shown. Medeiros is an active Twitter user so I'm surprised that she opted not to better utilize it in the book.As an author, she knows both the advantages and pitfalls of using Twitter to interact with and communicate with her readers but we never see Abby do any of that.

I'm not certain how readers who don't use Twitter will react to the book. While not an accurate representation of Twitter, since much of the book is written in DM's and not tweets, it could be offputting for some readers. There are sections of prose interspersed through out the book and we get to see Abby interacting with her friends, agent, mother, etc. I liked those little glimpses and I thought they really helped to flesh out Abby's character.

Mark's character is not so well fleshed out. We only see him via his replies to Abby and he is coy with information about himself. Abby is very trusting of this total stranger that she knows only online, something that her friend is quick to point out. I never felt as if I knew Mark or had a grasp on who he was. He does come off as funny, smart, and likable and he pushes Abby to not give up, but keep writing and keep living instead of hiding. His encouragement helps her to make progress on her stalled second novel.

 In a sense, Abby and Mark are pen pals, never meeting, communicating only by DM's and the occasional tweet. They promise not to look each other up on the web, they don't exchange photos, nor do they exchange email addresses, snail mail addresses, or  IM's. Their interactions are limited solely to Twitter, and the limited information that each chooses to share,  though at one point Abby does offer to exchange cell phone numbers.

"Goodnight Tweetheart" is a light, (mostly) fluffy, funny romance. It works on those levels but it could have been more. In addition to not fully utilizing Twitter as the geographical setting of this romance, there are other, serious issues that come up but don't really get addressed: Abby's depression, her mother's ill health, Abby 's continuing grief over her father's death several years ago, Abby's personal, professional and financial problems stemming from her failure to follow up on her first novel, how technology affects our relationships, etc. As you can see, there's a wealth of material but much of it is throw away or serves solely to move the romance along.

That said, it's a quick enjoyable read, with some laugh out loud lines. Medeiros has a sharp eye and a sharp wit. I enjoyed the story, I just wish it had been a little deeper, a little richer.


Publisher: Gallery Books

Release Date: Dec. 14, 2010


This paperback was received from the publisher for review.

Review: The Hollows by Jessica Verday

The Hollows by Jessica Verday
Review by Jax

Book Blurb:

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead…and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately,  she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

My review: From the blurb, I expected a ghost filled story. And it was, I suppose, though you don’t get confirmation of that until the last 50 pages. As a paranormal story, I felt let down a little. However, this is only the first book of three, the opening act, if you will.

There are many questions left unanswered. Her late friend’s secret diary detailed a secret boyfriend never named, never discovered. Was he a contributing factor to Kristen’s accident? What was the deal with Ben? What was his connection to Kristen, and what were his intentions toward her, and then Abbey? How does any of this tie in with Caspian? Here’s the thing, a lot of those questions are the kind that would be left unanswered in real life. Not knowing the answers is frustrating and disturbing. However, as much as I like my paranormal tales to be believable on some level, this was hard to take. Even finding out that there are two more books, and that the next one is already out didn’t take the edge off that feeling that something was left out.  

As a story of coping with death, grief and loss, I enjoyed The Hollows. Abbey distress and disconnect from the world around her following the death of her friend were believable. Her reaction to the direction her life had taken was very understandable. I did enjoy the premise and promise this tale shows. I am curious to find the answers to all those questions.

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Release Date: September 1, 2009

This book is owned by the reviewer.

Review: Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn

Book Blurb: After eight idyllic months in the Mediterranean, Lady Julia Grey and her detective husband are ready to put their investigative talents to work once more. At the urging of Julia's eccentric family, they hurry to India to aid an old friend, the newly widowed Jane Cavendish. Living on the Cavendish tea plantation with the remnants of her husband's family, Jane is consumed with the impending birth of her child—and with discovering the truth about her husband's death. Was he murdered for his estate? And if he was, could Jane and her unborn child be next? 

     Amid the lush foothills of the Himalayas, dark deeds are buried and malicious thoughts flourish. The Brisbanes uncover secrets and scandal, illicit affairs and twisted legacies. In this remote and exotic place, exploration is perilous and discovery, deadly. The danger is palpable and, if they are not careful, Julia and Nicholas will not live to celebrate their first anniversary.

My Thoughts: A friend reads the Lady Grey (Heh, that name always makes me think of the tea, Earl Grey :D) series and had been talking it up so when the chance to review this book came up, I jumped at it. This is book four in the series. I then contacted my friend to ask whether I should hurriedly read the first three or if she thought I could get by without reading them. The final decision? I might be less confused if I read the first three but it should be doable. She was right. I think that if I had read the others first, maybe I could have better appreciated some of the nuances and the character growth but overall, I didn't find it to be a big problem. For the most part the book stands on it's own although Ms. Raybourn does a nice job of weaving in back information with a light touch.

     Despite my anticipation, or maybe because of it, the story didn't grab me right away. It's hard to say, I think it may have been because the initial story setup was relatively slow. Once we got into the meat of the book, I was more involved.

     We meet up with Lady Grey and her groom, Brisbane, on their honeymoon, which is interrupted by the arrival of her brother Plum and sister Portia. The story hops around a  bit here, jumping locations and times, before settling in at their final destination. We do see Brisbane and Julia have a disagreement early on about whether he will travel on with Julia and her siblings or catch up and it nicely showcases their relationship.

     Actually, that brings up something that I very much liked, and appreciated on Raybourn's part: the realism of Brisbane and Julia's relationship. I suspect I would really appreciate it if I had read the first three books but even so, it's well done. They disagree, they argue, they take care of each other, and like any newly married couple, they are still learning and still negotiating how things will work. Everything is not all sweetness and light just because they are now married. They love each other, they enjoy marital relations but they still have to adjust and make accommodations. There were times that I wanted to smack each of them but that just shows you how well  Ms Raybourn wrote the characters.

     I also liked that the story was set in India as that country has always enchanted me. We get glimpses into what life was like back then, both for the Indian people and the British settlers. It was interesting to me to see the attitudes that the Brits had to the natives, especially as it felt real.

     Of course, the meat of the story is the mystery and it's a doozy. Jane, Portia's old flame, is worried that her husband Freddy didn't die of natural causes but was murdered. Julia, Brisbane, Plum and Portia all get involved, to varying degrees, in the investigation. Julia and Brisbane alternately work together and against each other as they try to sort out their roles in their marriage and in Brisbane's professional business.

     I really enjoyed this part. There were many suspects, many red herrings, and I kept changing my mind about who was the guilty party or if there even was one. I was completely surprised by the resolution of mystery around Freddy's death but when I looked back, I could see it. It made sense. I didn't like however the amazing number of coincidences in the story, particularly the people involved. I felt at times like I was reading a "Murder She Wrote" episode where JB Fletcher always had a relative in every city or country that she went to.

     The ending was a shocker, for me at least, and I cried. Well done Ms Raybourn.\

 Publisher: Mira

 Release Date: October 1st, 2010

The book was received from the author for review. The review originally appeared at Book Lovers Inc.

Review: Night of the Living Trekkies by Kevin David Anderson & Sam Stall

Book Blurb:  Journey to the Final Frontier of Sci-Fi Zombie Horror!

Jim Pike was the world's biggest Star Trek fan—until two tours of duty in Afghanistan destroyed his faith in the human race. Now he sleepwalks through life as the assistant manager of a small hotel in downtown Houston.

But when hundreds of Trekkies arrive in his lobby for a science-fiction convention, Jim finds himself surrounded by costumed Klingons, Vulcans, and Ferengi—plus a strange virus that transforms its carriers into savage, flesh-eating zombies!

As bloody corpses stumble to life and the planet teeters on the brink of total apocalypse, Jim must deliver a ragtag crew of fanboys and fangirls to safety. Dressed in homemade uniforms and armed with prop phasers, their prime directive is to survive. But how long can they last in the ultimate no-win scenario?

*This is an original work of fiction, horror, and parody, and is not officially sponsored by, affiliated with, or endorsed by the owners of the Star Trek® brand. 

My Thoughts: I'm not generally a zombie fan but I AM a Trekkie. I've loved it since I was a little kid. One of my very best friends, I met over 20 years ago in college because of Star Trek. We had a class together but hadn't talked until she spotted me reading a Star Trek comic book (yes, this was back before they were graphic novels) as I waited for class to start. We've been good friends ever since. I spotted this book over the summer at my local independent book store, picked it up and skimmed through it. I've been to some ST conventions and the authors seemed to know what they were talking about plus it didn't seem campy despite the cover art so I decided to give it a try.

     The book moves quickly and contains some twists and turns, though a few parts were predictable. There are a few small plot holes, but the book is written in good fun. It's funny but not sarcastic or biting, the convention parts felt real, and the characters were likable. I did want to slap Jim a time or two, he was exceedingly self-absorbed, but he's written that way and some of the other characters did it for me. :D

     There's a running gag concerning the friendly rivalry between Trek fans and Star Wars fans which was fun but not overly done. There are some puns (hello, the name Jim Pike? Awesome)  but the book never becomes childish or crosses the line into ridiculous. I didn't completely buy into the explanation for where the zombies came from or how they developed but but it didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book. It was fun, had lots of neat little ST references, and I read it in one sitting.


Publisher: Quirk Books

Release Date: July 28, 2010



I borrowed this paperback from my local library.

Review: Beg Me by Shiloh Walker

Book Blurb: Beg me…there had been a time when those words made her burn with desire. But now, there was only fear.
 
Once, Tania Sinclair’s life was almost perfect…oh, it had its ups and downs but she was happily married to a guy that adored her, one who had no problem indulging every kinky fantasy she ever had. But a couple of tragedies later, she’s barely holding it together. A car accident took away her husband, and an attack from somebody she should have been able to trust has shaken not only her confidence, but it’s also stripped away her fantasies and even made it painful to look back on her memories of her husband without fear.

Two years after her attack, Tania is determined to take her life back and the first step is taking back herself…her fantasies, her dreams, her memories. There’s only one person she can trust to do it, too. One person she wants enough…Drake Bennett, her husband’s best friend.

Falling for your best friend’s wife—never smart. Drake’s watched Tania quietly for years, watched her…wanted her, knowing he’d never have her. First, she was taken. And then, that night two years ago—a night that still scars her, a night that’s left bruises on her that still haven’t healed. He does what he can, though, because he loves her too much not to. He’s her friend, there when she needs him.

And now she needs him. She’s asked him for a favor…one that just about blows his mind…

Warning: This book involves light bondage play, rape fantasy & role-playing. The acts between the hero & heroine are consensual, but they may not be ideal for all readers… 

My Thoughts: I'm not really one for rape fantasies, they strike me as wrong and make me squirm. Rape, real rape, is pretty horrific.That said, people do have rape fantasies and I knew what I was getting when I bought this book. Not only does the book description include the above warning (I added the bolding) but Walker was also up front about it in her pre-publication buzz, both on her blog and on Twitter. I appreciated the fact that she was so upfront about the topic and so careful to inform her readers. The book sounded interesting and I decided to take a chance.

     I'm glad that I did. The topic is handled with great sensitivity and I can almost see the appeal. I say almost because I just don't run that way. Of course, the story is a romance too and that was my favorite part. I liked how it unfolded though I did think the ending was a bit rushed. Still, the characters are well-written and the story held my interest. My main quibble has to do with the behavior and actions of Tania's in-laws, especially her brother-in-law. I had no trouble believing his actions at the beginning of the book, but what we find out later about him and his mother, that was less believable. Despite that, the story flowed well and I enjoyed it. I even enjoyed some of the sex scenes. Walker handled the emotional fallout of the rape fantasies with a deft touch.

     Overall, a good book, well worth reading.

Publisher: Shiloh Walker, Inc.

Release Date: November 19, 2010

This e-book is owned by the reviewer.

Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas

Review by Jax
Book Blurb:

‘Tis Christmas and everyone is stirring…
 
From the keeper of Santa’s naughty list, delightful little Elves eager to please, and the sensual love of a toy soldier—the holidays are filled with orgasmic cheer. Where wishes come true, Frosty is itching for a melt-down, fairies and angels are randy to grant your every wish, ‘tis the season to be oh, so jolly-filled.
 
Unwrap your darkest desires…for this is Christmas, and it will never be the same.

13 Author Anthology
Santa's Naughty List by Stacey Espino  
My Boys by Amarinda Jones
A Christmas Curse by Ericka Scott
The Little Red Ribbon by A.D. Blackburn
Once Upon a Christmas Spanking by Rachel Clark 
Yes Alana, There Is a Santa Claus by Seleste deLaney
Carly's Delights by Lauren Pilla
Kingdom of Sweets by Gigi Brevard
Holly's Clause by Kerri Nelson
Hard for the Holidays by Skylar Sinclair
The Christmas Fae by Emma Shortt
Jack Frost by Misty Burke
A Christmas Wish for Laura by Shannan Albright

 My Review:
Ever read a story that literally heats you up from the inside out? Well, here's a whole book full of 'em. They range from the sweet warmth of hot chocolate to the spicy heat of cinnamon candy. I was so very tempted to indulge in the whole feast of sweets in one sitting. But I know I'll go back and savor each story again and again. There are angels and elves, Christmas wishes, magic and miracles. And skip the nice list, I want on that naughty list this year! Spice up your winter - grab a mug of cocoa, find a quiet corner and see what Santa brought the lucky ladies in this book.

Publisher: Evernight Publishing
http://www.evernightpublishing.com/

Released: December 3, 2010

This book is in e-book format and is owned by the reviewer

New Features

     Although I am still computerless, thanks to a sick cat and an urgent, unplanned car repair, Jax and I have been busy making plans. I don't know what I'd do if my local public library didn't have computers with internet access. 

     Anyway, Jax and I have been talking and we will be adding two weekly features. One, which will probably be posted on Fridays, will be a roundup of contests and giveaways. Jax and I will track, as best we can, books, book gift cards, e-readers, etc that publishers, authors, and bloggers are giving away. We will post the relevant information, along with a link. If you want yours included, or know of one that we should include, please use the contact form at the bottom of the page to send us the information along with a way to reach you if we have any questions.

     The other new feature will be a weekly list of upcoming releases, both short-term and long-term. It will be a mix of genres, reflecting what Jax and I read. So you will find UF in it's various permutations, romance and it's permutations, mysteries, some sci-fi, some children's books, and the occasional assorted non-fictions ie cookbooks, child growth and development, etc.

     Both of these features should start in the next week or two. Please let us know how you like them and what you'd like to see. 

     Oh, and before I forget, Happy Hannukah!