The Network Series Book Reviews:

I was a participant in The Network Series Review Tour and published my review for Miss Mabel's School for Girls  by Katie Cross in late July.The reviews for Books Two and Three are included in this post. You can read Book One by clicking on the link below:

 Miss Mabel's School for Girls












ABOUT ANTEBELLUM AWAKENING

Never underestimate the power of a volatile witch.

Still reeling in the wake of her mother’s death, sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe is forced to move to Chatham Castle. Not even the sudden appearance of ancient dragons in haunted Letum Wood nor her two best friends can distract her from the strength of her deep, dark rage.  Her grief puts her magical powers into chaos, endangering any witch around her. She has six months left to destroy the curse that will kill her and fulfill her contract with the most cunning enemy of all: her former teacher Miss Mabel. Bianca must make a choice: learn to control her restless powers, or let the powers control her.

Antebellum Awakening is the second book in the thrilling new fantasy collection The Network Series. It’s a haunting tale about tragedy, loss, and the power of moving on.

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Book Review of Antebellum Awakening:    

   

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe now lives with her father Derrick at Chatham Castle following the tragic death of her mother, Marie. She is remorseful and does not know how to control her grief; is too stubborn to seek help, but knows her moods are uncontrollable and often causes calamities. Bianca wants to destroy detestable Miss Mabel but knows it will take cunning skills and wits to fight the vile witch who refuses to terminate the Inheritance Curse that will kill her on her seventeenth birthday.

She also wants to find a way to snatch the Book of Contracts from her so that she can terminate their binding agreement, written in blood. When Miss Mabel summons Bianca to carry out her part of the binding contract and reveals the deadly task she has to perform, unwillingly, it only makes Bianca more determined to outwit the witch at her own game, even if she has to die to do it.

Katie Cross caught my attention once more with Antebellum Awakening, her second book from The Network Series. It is even more absorbing and action filled than Book One. I found the story extremely poignant, intense and suspenseful as Bianca struggled to cope with the loss of her mother and other threatening problems that Miss Mabel inflicted on her and the community. 

There were times, though; that I worried about Bianca’s impulsive behavior and rash decisions, but that made the story even more appealing. She is a lot stronger than she believes. I was also fond of other main characters and enjoyed the mild romance and humour that the novel contained. Antebellum Awakening is an entertaining book that young adults will enjoy.

 Rating: 


ABOUT THE ISADORA INTERVIEWS:

Isadora is a quiet, old witch living alone in the fog-strewn forest of Letum Wood. Her magical power is great, but her foresight is even greater.As a Watcher, Isadora has the ability to see into the heart of every witch she meets, a talent that makes her the perfect guardian of the prestigious Miss Mabel’s School for Girls.Any witch that wants to enter the school must first pass an interview with Isadora. No secret insecurity or sinister motivation can be hidden from a Watcher, as four teenage girls will soon find out.Join Leda, Camille, Michelle, and Priscilla, as they each encounter Isadora in their quest to join Miss Mabel’s School for Girls. It’s a collection of short stories that fans of Miss Mabel’s School for Girls can’t afford to miss.

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Book Review of The Isadora Interviews:

The Isadora Interviews is the third book from The Network Series by Katie Cross. It consists of four short stories containing useful in-depth background information on four girls who are main characters in the series. You will become acquainted with Leda, Camille, Michelle and Priscilla who display uncommon personalities, attitudes, and skills, which reflects their family life. 

Isadora is an elderly witch and Watcher who can read people’s innermost thoughts and is an excellent judge of character. This special skill makes her the ideal recruiter for selecting potential girls to attend Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, located in Letum Wood. She is a sharp-witted witch who certainly knows how to extract information from persons without their knowledge.

This charming book complements the others in The Network Series. It shows the amusing selection process for the girls who are to attend Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, as well as hints of the significant future roles they will play. Having read the previous books from the series, The Isadora Interviews made me more understanding and somewhat sympathetic to the girls and their mannerisms. The Isadora Interviews is nicely developed and Katie Cross writes very well and creatively to attract her readers.


 Rating:     

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katie Cross grew up in the mountains of Idaho, where she still loves to play when she gets the chance.If she’s not writing, you can find her traveling, working as a pediatric nurse, trail running with her husband and two dogs, or curled up with a book and a cup of chai.

Author Online: Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter @kcrosswriting

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The Network Series Review Tour: Miss Mabel's School for Girls by Katie Cross/Giveaway

NETWORK SERIES

By Katie Cross

ABOUT MISS MABEL'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS:

Never Underestimate the Power of a Determined Witch.

Letum Wood is a forest of fog and deadfall, home to the quietly famous Miss Mabel’s School for Girls, a place where young witches learn the art of magic. Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe has inherited a deadly curse. Determined to break free before it kills her, she enrolls in the respected school to confront the cunning witch who cast the curse: Miss Mabel.  Bianca finds herself faced with dark magic she didn’t expect, with lessons more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Will Bianca have the courage to save herself from the curse, or will Miss Mabel’s sinister plan be too powerful? 

Miss Mabel’s School for Girls is the first novel in The Network Series, an exciting new fantasy collection. A gripping tale about the struggle to survive, it will take you to a new place and time, one you’ll never want to leave.

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* Goodreads *

Review:

Expect the unexpected and never let your guard down when you're around Miss Mabel!

Sixteen-year-old Bianca Monroe inherited a deadly curse from her grandmother. The curse, thrown by Miss Mabel many years ago stipulates that if it remains unbroken when the third generation female reaches seventeen, she will die. Bianca enrols at Miss Mabel’s School for Young Girls that teaches magic. Her ultimate goal is to convince Miss Mabel to break the curse, and she begins training to become Miss Mabel’s Assistant. Bianca soon learns how unfair, devious, and treacherous Miss Mabel can be when assigned peculiar dark magic assignments the other witches do not study. 

The poor girl struggles to survive this rigorous training but comes to realize that Miss Mabel does not intend to break the curse that will save her ailing grandmother’s life or her own. This infuriates her, but she decides to find another way to solve her dilemma using the hidden magic powers her father taught her. Bianca wonders if she will be strong enough to outwit the mistress of dark magic, who ruthlessly threatens to harm her loved ones if Bianca refuses to participate in the deadly scheme that she is brewing.

Miss Mabel's School for Girls is the first book in The Network Series by Katie Cross. This fast-paced story nicely combines humour, drama and magic with a good cast of characters. Miss Mabel is downright evil and despicable, so do not let her good looks and charming voice fool you. Bianca is a lot stronger than she believes, mentally and physically, having to endure the torturous training she receives. Each character played their roles convincingly and some kept me wondering if they were friends or foes. Katie Cross is imaginative and developed an intriguing story that made me want to keep reading. Letum Wood, where the school is located has an aura that I like. Miss Mabel's School for Girls is a terrific fantasy I recommend.

RATING   :            

ABOUT THE AUTHOR::

Katie Cross grew up in the mountains of Idaho, where she still loves to play when she gets the chance. If she’s not writing, you can find her traveling, working as a pediatric nurse, trail running with her husband and two dogs, or curled up with a book and a cup of chai.

  AUTHOR ONLINE:      Website  Blog  Facebook   Twitter @kcrosswriting

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$30 Visa Gift Card

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Book Review: Johnnie Come Lately

I am glad that I had the opportunity to read Johnnie Come Lately by Kathleen M. Rodgers and think it is as interesting as her award-winning novel, The Final Salute.

Book Review:

One would consider Johnnie Kitchen a fortunate woman for marrying Dale, a good-looking, devoted husband, and raising three lovely children. She cherishes her family but feels her life's accomplishments are inadequate and yearns to complete her college education. Johnnie overcame bulimia that plagued her while growing up, but still has the occasional urge to succumb to it. She realizes that part of her problems link to her past, because she never knew whom her father was, and wonders why her mother abandoned her when she was little. Why was she named after an uncle who died tragically?

Johnnie releases her woes in a journal by writing letters to the living and deceased associated with her life. When her son Cabe talks about his personal struggles, Johnnie becomes glum and confesses a secret that damages her relationship with Dale and the children. Her life appears to be spinning out of control and Johnnie just wants to puke. 

She wants to make things right, but only the unanswered questions of the past can resolve the unhappiness she now experiences. Meeting the new neighbour who constantly relives events in his past and hearing of a young soldier's injuries make her see things in another perspective. Although ailing Granny Opal has the answers, she refuses to tell Johnnie the truth that could set her free from the poignant anguish that has festered within her for so long.

Kathleen M. Rodgers' novel portrays normal people with concerns that readers can compare to their own. This is an intense, emotional drama with well-defined characters, who face their issues with different strengths and moods. Johnnie always seemed happy but her burdens were too heavy to carry alone. The author also brings to light how bulimia affects persons physically and mentally, and how it can remain untreated or undetected. Her charming writing style puts one at ease and Johnnie Come Lately is a novel I recommend reading.            

Rating:     

Links:                            Amazon                         Goodreads  

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Book Review: Italian Wine Notes

Book Review:

Italian Wine Notes is written by Bob Lipinski and Gary Grunner, both qualified connoisseurs in the wine industry. The book comprises alphabetical lists of both major wines and their areas of origin, foods of the region, a glossary and phonetic pronunciations of terms, wine categories and grape varieties. Italy has approximately 2 million acres of planted vineyards, which are divided into 20 wine producing regions. Each region adheres to DOCG, DOC and IGT laws, which have specifications for all types of wine produced and how grapes should be grown.

Italian wines are classed as Generic - place or origin; Varietal - varieties of grapes for specific wines; Proprietary - producer. The country is the world's largest producer of Vermouth and largest exporter of table wines into the United States. There are over 2,000 varieties of Italian wine which are an output no other country has surpassed.

Persons wishing to travel to Italy or who are interested in a wine and food career will recognize the full worth of Italian Wine Notes. The goal of the authors is to educate readers on Italy and their wines by providing more informative and in-depth data using a journal Gary Grunner kept on the topic, as well  as input from Bob Lipinski. The authors not only elaborate on wines, but include major regional soccer teams, places of interests and towns, cheeses, a listing of DOCG wines as of 2013, and other relevant content that made Italian Wine Notes even more enlightening to read.

Book Links:                       Amazon      Goodreads

Rating:         

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite.

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Book Review: The Final Salute

Book Review:

The Final Salute is a military fiction by Kathleen Rodgers. Colonel Tuck Westerfield, a fighter pilot at Beauregard Air Force base who flew in the Gulf war, mourns the death of his friend and colleague. His unhappiness rises after catching his Commanding Officer cheating with another officer, as his boss constantly threatens him. Gina, Tuck's wife, worries about his moodiness, which the neighbour's dog provokes; and Michelle, her rebellious, gothic-attired stepdaughter who visits. 

Tuck travels down Memory Lane, reliving his childhood while remembering his friends and colleagues who died courageously, and wonders why life deals such blows. He is assigned to the Middle East after Iraq invades Kuwait and his experiences there make him more determined to consider changes to his life if he survives.

Kathleen Rodgers has created an engrossing military fiction appropriately called The Final Salute. She gives a very realistic account of what life is like in the air force, both from those who serve and from their family members' point of view. It is an intriguing story that has so many emotions as the diverse characters express their joys, fears, pains and sadness in different ways. 

The author also demonstrated quite nicely how a few military careers may be tarnished and how some scandals or other conflicts are quickly covered up. The Final Salute is a book I did not want to put down, and I think Kathleen Rodgers writes descriptively and with compassion. She shows readers another side of military life in an original and interesting format.


Rating:       

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite.

Here are links to The Final Salute which has been featured on USA-Today, The Associated Press, Military Times and many other publications.

Amazon                               Goodreads

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cupid's cure (senryu)

broke up with boyfriend

moody emotional wreck

ice-cream therapy

+++++

Image courtesy of wikimediacommons.org

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Book Review: 101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey

Book Review:

"Whenever someone asks me if I want water with my Scotch, I say, I'm thirsty, not dirty." - Joe E. Lewis, 1902-1971, American actor and comedian.

101: Everything You Need to Know About Whiskey is a very informative book by Bob Lipinsky. The author gives a general description about whiskies, their distinctive features and flavours, countries of origin, history, ingredients used and definitions. The types of whiskies include corn, Bourbon, Canadian, Japanese and Irish. Some whiskey flavours include almond, toffee, nuts, fruit, ginger and honey. Whiskey only ages in wooden barrels and ceases to improve once removed. It does, however, react well to sunlight. A bottle of 25- year-old Scotch purchased 10 years ago will remain 25-year-old, and shelf life depends on consumption.

"My God, so much I like to drink Scotch that sometimes I think my name is Igor Stra-whiskey." - Igor Stravinsky, 1882-1971, Russian-born modern composer.

Although I don't drink whiskey, I was tempted to while reading this insightful, educational book. Bob Lipinski was very thorough and knowledgeable in his research, providing a wealth of information regarding whiskey. I was impressed with the content and loved the whiskey-infused quotes. The sections on Drinks of American Presidents and Celebrities, Classic Whiskey Cocktails and unusual Slang Terms are interesting. The United States Congress passed a resolution recognizing bourbon whiskey as a distinctive product of their country so other countries don't have the right to call their whiskey products bourbon. 101: Everything You Need to Know About Whiskey is worth reading.

Here are links for Bob Lipinski's book:

Amazon                           Goodreads

Rating:      

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite.

Please, feel free to comment.