Dealing With Devils by Pembroke Sinclair

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This book has even more tension than the first book had.  Katie is even more attracted to Josh.  What he does, taking people's souls weighs heavily on her for a while.  She feels safe around Josh, yet feels conflicted.  Her best friend Deb is trying hard to save Katie from Josh.  Enter bad boy Braden.  He and Josh both want Katie.  Braden is higher up in the demon hierarchy. The question is, what does he truly want with her.  Katie keeps hearing from all of the demons and Lucifer himself that her problem is she keeps holding onto her humanity.  Now Katie has a burning desire to find out what they mean by that.  The only way to find out is to demand a meeting with Lucifer and ask him herself.  What she learns seems to make sense yet also holds her back.  She really thought all along that there was Salvation for Josh.  I was conflicted with this book.  I know why I'm conflicted.  My religious beliefs want Katie to see the true evil.  I loved however that there is the added conflict between the two demons.  I worried all the way through as Katie seems to be lacking normal "human" feelings the deeper and darker she delves into the world and work of the demons.  Like the first book this one ended on a cliff hanger.  A lot of people hate endings like this.  I am ot one of them.  It makes me hunger for the next installment.  I feel like Katie is not getting the whole story.  I feel like she is getting herself and her friends deeper into danger.  I keep waiting for someone to come and rescue her from herself.  I guess I'll have to wait to see what happens next.  I will be waiting for the next book.

Author Bio:

Pembroke Sinclair is a literary jack of all trades, playing her hand at multiple genres. She has written an eclectic mix of fiction ranging from horror to sci-fi and even some westerns. Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming--the home of 56 nationalities--it is no wonder Pembroke ended up so creatively diverse. Her fascination with the notions of good and evil, demons and angels, and how the lines blur have inspired her writing. Pembroke lives in Laramie, Wyoming, with her husband, two spirited boys, a black lab named Ryder, and a rescue kitty named Alia, who happens to be the sweetest, most adorable kitty in the world! She cannot say no to dessert, orange soda, or cinnamon. She loves rats and tatts and rock and roll and wants to be an alien queen when she grows up.

You can learn more about Pembroke Sinclair by visiting her at http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/

Social Media Links:

https://www.facebook.com/jessicarobinsonauthor

https://twitter.com/PembrokeSinclai

https://plus.google.com/102808614523341154478/posts

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3522214.Pembroke_Sinclair

Find the Book:

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24298358-dealing-with-devils?from_search=true

Interview and Book Review with Pembroke Sinclair

How did you come up with the idea of writing a book?

 The voices in my head wouldn’t leave me alone until I put their story on paper.  Then, when that was done, more voices showed up.  It’s a vicious cycle.

Does writing take time away from your family?

 I try really hard not to let it.  I try to write after the kids have gone to bed or in between their wrestling matches, or while they are at practice.  If my husband and I are watching  a movie/TV/sports event I’m not really interested in, I’ll squeeze it in then.  Otherwise, I  try to keep my focus on them.

Where are we most likely to find you writing?

Anywhere and everywhere.  Like I said, my boys’ wrestling practice/sports events,  doctor’s appointments, at home.

Do you ever get writer’s block?

Yes and no.  Sometimes I get stuck writing something, but if I just step away from it for a little while and think about it, I can usually work out the issue.

What’s the most discouraging thing that happened while trying to write/publish, and how did you get over it?

The most discouraging thing to happen is to be rejected multiple times and get conflicting reasons of why you’re being rejected.  That’s really hard to deal with.  However, it’s the nature of the business, so I lifted my chin and didn’t back down.  Eventually, that one YES will make up for all the NOs!

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Write what you want to write.  And don’t let anyone tell you it’s wrong.  If you’re passionate about it and it makes you happen, then it’s totally right.

Who are your favorite authors?

To name just a few: Piers Anthony, Christopher Pike, Lewis Carroll, C.S. Lewis, Milton, Mary Roach.

Do you listen to music while you write, or do you need silence?

I used to.  Now, my background noise usually consists of my children playing.  But on the off chance I get to write alone, I prefer silence.  It allows me to hear the voices better.

What do you like to do when not writing?

 Veg, read, watch TV, go snowmobiling with my family.

What’s your favorite dinner…and dessert?

I really enjoy salmon.  And my favorite dessert is anything with cinnamon and no nuts.  Mmmmm.

Lastly, any other books that you are working on that we should look out for?

I am currently working on the third book in The Road to Salvation series.  It doesn’t have a title yet.

Review: The Appeal of Evil
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review the opinions expressed here are my own.
Katie is a senior who has always had a thing for her childhood friend Wes. Unfortunately,  he has never really reciprocated.  She is tired of this roller coaster ride. Enter Josh, a new kid at school.  Josh is all about showering attention on Katie.  Wes doesn't want Katie with Josh. Katie is intrigued by Josh's bad boy persona. This is your classic good versus evil plot. 

Josh wants Katie not because he really cares about her, but because it is a way to get to Wes who knows that Josh is a demon.  What Katie doesn't realize is that Wes is, and always has been her protector. The author has created a bad boy that is so tempting you almost want Katie to choose him. There is enough descriptive language for those like me, who thrive on description, but not so much to drive others away. The fantasy aspect was very believable and not too far-fetched. The title definitely fit the book. I will definitely recommend this book. Come back tomorrow when I post my review for the second book in this series, Dealing With Devils.

The Girl from the Tar Paper School by Teri Kanefield

Genre: All Ages, Biography
Source: I received a copy for my classroom from the author

I received a copy from the author for my classroom.  I am always looking for quality books for my middle school classroom.  This is a book I am proud to put on my shelves. This is the story of Barbara Rose Johns.  She was a courage, young black girl, growing up in segregated America.  She chose to make a difference.  She didn't listen when people said no, or you can't do anything.  So why had I not heard of her before?  Barbara chose not to stay in the limelight once she set things in motion. There is so much I don't know about the Civil Rights Movement.  As a teacher I am well aware that back in the 1950's black and white schools were not equal.  They didn't receive the same quality buildings, books or other necessities.  Growing up white in a family that never mentioned skin color, I was oblivious to the issues of racism.  I grew up in the country, but the town where we shopped was very prejudiced.  I remember the fountains on the sidewalk and being pulled away because of signs on them my mother refused to let me read. Her response was, you don't need a drink right now, we are going to get a treat and have a soda.  That was something I got once or twice a year when on vacation. I didn't understand what racism was until my sister went away to college and her dorms were caught in the middle of a race riot.  It wasn't taught in my school.  I'd never gone to school with a black kid until I moved to Florida in my sophomore year.  I didn't understand what the big deal was that my best friend was black.  I was lucky in many ways.  My mind was not poisoned.
Barbara Johns saw the inequality because her school, unlike the white school were just wooden structures covered with heavy paper and coated with tar. They were leaky and very cold. When Barbara decided to make the issue known, she didn't get the results she thought she would. She managed to call an assembly where she dismissed the adults because she didn't want them to get in trouble.  When she wrote to the NAACP for help they refused to help them get a new school built.  Instead they wanted total integration.  This was not what she had started out trying to accomplish. I became so enraged with the attitudes of the whites within the pages of this book.  I guess if you never grew up hating a race of people it is often hard to believe that others could be so ignorant.  I am sure there are many that would read this review and be angered at me.  But, that is okay. I am proud to share and promote this book to my students.  Barbara's strike took place before we ever heard of Martin Luther King.  It is important that ALL students learn that there were other people out there just as important as MLK.  Most importantly it is very important that they learn that no matter how young they are, they can make a difference in the world.  They need to learn they can't do it by sitting by watching and keeping their mouth closed.  This is the second book I have read by this author and I love her work.  I am proud to promote her work.  Look for more reviews of her books by me.

Student Saturday: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Student Reviewer: Elizabeth B.

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

I really enjoyed the first book in the Maze Runner series. It really grabbed me with all the imagination and creativity of the author’s writing. I connected with it because I already heard if you read another series – Divergent – then you would like this one. I liked when the book just started that the kid Thomas was in some kind of box. I liked another part because Thomas had no idea who he was, just that he had that name. I felt secure when reading this part because I could relate to him; I also had no idea who he was, just his name. I felt connected because I would learn who he was with him – rather than have him tell me about himself. I was definitely drawn to the book. When Thomas thought, I thought even harder. This book is kind of like the Hunger Games, just not as violent. I was like that because lots of people died. That was the saddening part for me. There also were a lot of questions with no answers so the book left me dying for more.

Come Visit Scotland and Hungary

If You Were Me and Lived in Scotland by Carole P. Roman
Genre: children's picture book
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review, the opinions expressed here are my own.

Scotland is at the north end of Great Britain.  I didn’t know until I read this book that Scotland has more than 790 islands in the North Sea. The capital is Edinburg.  Many of its buildings were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome.  Common names in Scotland would be Ian, Connor or Malcom for boys and Kelsey, Aillen or Margaret for girls.  The word for mommy is Mathair and daddy is Dadadh. The official animal of Scotland is the mythological creature known as a unicorn.  They are well known for their lake the Loch Ness and its creature known as the Loch Ness Monster or Nessie.  They eat oatmeal called porridge for breakfast, tattie scones which are potato muffins.  They eat a lot of fish dishes.  They use oats for all kinds of things from stuffing to desserts.  One of their favorite sports is golf.  They have the Highland games.  They dress in kilts, tartans and plaids.  One of their most well known instruments is the bagpipes. I absolutely love these books.  It is a way for students to travel the world and learn about different cultures without leaving their home. I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed are my own.

If You Were Me and Lived in Hungary by Carole P. Roman
Genre: children's picture book
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review, the opinions expressed here are my own.

Once again we take a trip with this author to a new country. Today we explore Hungary and learn that the capital is Budapest.  It is fun to learn some common names such as Peter, Laszlo or Atilla if you are a boy; and Judit, Suzanna or Erzse’bet if you are a girl.  Mommy is Anya, Daddy is Apa and grandma is Nagy. The largest lake is the Balaton. It means mud or swamp. A popular food is goulash, which is a stew with meat and vegetables. It was interesting to learn that water polo is a favorite sport.  I learned that the Rubik’s Cube was invented there.  This is a wonderful way to learn about the country and culture of Hungary.

Several Wonderful Children's Books

What Do Monsters Eat? by Mark Smith

This is a fun rhyming book to read with your child.  While reading your child can try to find the worm that hides in each picture. They can try to identify the different foods each of the monsters like to eat.  Depending on how you read to your child, you can probably get the "ooo gross" remark from them.  I'm glad I'm not a monster because I don't think I'd like pizza with octopus on top, or chocolate covered fish.  On the educational side of this it is a way of opening a conversation about healthy eating. As always Mark has done a great job of intertaining kids while educating them as well.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Ooh Lolita by L. Gina Davis
This is a wonderful story about "stranger danger".  Lolita is a witch who hates children.  She has two

cats.  One of them is just like her. The other cat wants to be free of the witch.  She gets her power from the sun.  One day upon the advice of the cat Bufu, she turns herself into a beautiful princess and tricks the children into coming into her house.  Once there she locks them in and makes them work for her.  She does this several days.  But, can she hold the children forever?  How will they and the cat Chum get free?
The pictures are wonderful. The story is very interesting and sure to keep the attention  any child, or child at heart. I would definitely read more books by this author.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Sniff the Cat & the Super Duper Most InterestingSmell by Picture Kid
A cute story of a cat who loves to sniff.  He sniffs a wonderful thing one day.  He can't quite figure out what it is.  He follows and follows until he gets so tired he must take a nap.  While asleep he has a wonderful dream that everything he sniffs smells like meat. Then he wakes up and can no longer smell what he was following.  He heads back home to all of his familiar smells and learns a valuable lesson.  The best things are right at home.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.




Stories For Children 3 by Francois Bissonette

She tells him about 3 magic oranges that can remove the spell. The spell is removed, but this doesn't stop Melinda.  He casts another spell.  This time it is on the prince's new wife.  She turns her into a dove and takes her place.
The second story is called "The Wand". This story is about a knight who is approached by a witch.  She wants his help.  She gives him keys to magic doors where he can find money.  In return she wants a magic wand that is in the tree.  He finds the money and returns with the wand.  When she refuses to tell him what she wants the wand for he chases her away and keeps it.  He becomes quite wealthy and well known.  He learns of a princess kept in a tower by her father.  It has been foretold she will marry a knight.  The king wants more for her.  The knight uses the wand to get the princess, make the king and queen happy and to live happily ever after.   I really enjoyed these stories.  Simple fairy tales to please everyone.

I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Rivka's Way by Teri Kanefield

Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

If you love historical fiction as much as I do then this is the book for you. Rivka is a fifteen year old girl who lives in the Jewish ghetto of Prague. The time period is the late 1800's. Unlike many of the other Jews in the ghetto, her family has it much better.  You may be wondering why. Her father is a doctor and there for is considere upper class in the ghetto.

Rivka is best friends with her brother Jakob.  She has grown up listening to his stories about the outside world.  He has left Prague to go to school to become a Rabbi.  Her mother just wants her to put foolish notions and stories away and prepare for her arranged engagement. I loved the fact that Rivka wanted to plant trees and other plants so much that she created a garden on the rooftop of her building. Having a garden isn't enough for her.  She wants so much to see what is outside the ghetto that she dresses in boys clothing and travels around as a gentile boy.  I loved her spunk.  I am not sure, given the time period that I would have had as much courage as she had to do this.  I would want the freedom, but I'm not sure I could pull it off.

This is a must read for all historical fiction buffs out there.  You won't regret this one.  Since this is considered a middle grade book I'll let you in on a secret.  I'm not a middle grade kid and I loved it. This is a book to be loved by all ages.

About the Author From Amazon
Teri writes novels, short stories, essays, stories for children, and nonfiction for both children and adults.
Her stories and essays have appeared in publications as diverse as Education Week, Scope Magazine, The Iowa Review, The American Literary Review, and Cricket Magazine.
Her children's books include the critically acclaimed The Girl From the Tar Paper School and Guilty? Crime, Punishment, and the Changing Face Justice. Both books were Junior Library Guild Selections. The Girl From the Tar Paper School was a California Reading Association Silver Honor book. Her first novel, Rivka's Way, was a Sydney Taylor Awards Notable Book. 
Teri lives in California near the beach. 
To learn more about Teri and her books, please visit her website at www.terikanefield.com

The Woodsman by Craig Hansen

Genre: Adult, Suspense
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads:
Sometimes, you have to pay for your good deeds. 

Steve Peretti is a prolific serial killer known as The Woodsman. For years, he's terrorized dozens of victims throughout the Upper Midwest, without drawing attention or suspicion to himself, keeping a low profile. He's cautious, careful, and calculated ... most of the time. 

But anyone can make a mistake. 

One night, on the way home through Hope, Wisconsin, he stops for gas and ends up foiling a robbery. He gets injured in the process, and ends up in jail over a conceal-carry violation. While in lock-up, he taunts and is attacked by another prisoner, who blinds him. 

Then he's given a chance to have his vision restored through an experimental, advanced eye-surgery program at UW-Madison, called EyeCU. His surgery is successful, and he returns from EyeCU ready to rebuild his life with his new eyes. And that means returning to being The Woodsman. 

But he begins having strange visions; vivid dreams about acts of kindness and mercy that seem foreign and terrifying to him. Worse, he finds it difficult to carry out his normal acts of evil, leaving him increasingly helpless at a time when he's at his most vulnerable. 

Evil can corrupt good, but is the reverse true? Can good disrupt the persistence of evil? If you've ever enjoyed movies like Eyes of Laura Mars, The Eye, or Blink, then The Woodsman is a tale that will defy your expectations, yet leave you entertained and more than a little unsettled.

My Thoughts:
First let me say that the cover of this book is absolutely beautiful. When I first started this book I had visions of the series "Dexter".  The reason is simple, the serial killer seems to have a good side to him as well.  While trying to stop a robbery in progress he is shot. He wakes up in the hospital and then is sent to jail. While in jail he is blinded by a cell mate, and almost killed.  This is where things take a turn.  He becomes a volunteer test subject that could possibly give him is sight back.  It is what happens after this turn of events that twisted everything I thought would happen.  Craig Hansen does an excellent job of presenting a story and then when you get comfortable with it, he gives it such a twist you think about it for days and days.  That is what this book does.  It is one of the best suspenseful novels I have read in a long time.  I hightly recommend this book.  However, start it in the morning because you won't be able to put it down until you have fiished it.

Mama Cried by Talia Haven

Genre: Realistic Fantasy

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I have to say I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw how short the story was.  Talia Haven definitely has a gift for packing a lot into so little.  The story starts with Jenny and her friends swinging on the playground.   Her guardian, Azula come to get her.  She and her puppies go along with Azula to a building. I thought it strange that Jenny would ask her if she was going where all of the other children went.  At first I thought maybe she was being adopted. When asked what her last memory was, she replied, “Mama cried.”  It is at this point I realized she is dead. She is told she will enter and have to make a decision.  She is also told her puppies with be grown up.  What she sees, and what she remembers is so heart wrenching.  At first I thought it unfair for her to have to make the type of decision she had to make.  As the story progressed and came toward its end I knew it was right that she be the one. The ending was very satisfying.  I was amazed that the author was able to pack so much emotion into her writing.  I definitely will recommend her writing to others and will look forward to reading more from her.

Student Saturday: Plague by Michael Grant

Sudent Reviewer: Elizabeth B.

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

I enjoyed this book a lot because of the description. I really liked it. It was extremely detailed. I connected with this to other books because this just was a start of a war. A cold endless war. This book was both saddening and a thriller.  I would recommend this to anyone who has, what I call an evil mind. Like if they enjoy thrillers that are very suspenseful and that they don’t care what happens good or bad.