Review

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“Blind Dates Can Be Murder” by Mindy Starns Clark

41TOogxWSAL._SX315_BO1,204,203,200_ I wasn’t really raised reading “romance” novels, so even though Blind Dates Can Be Murder contained mystery elements this book proved to be a new genre experience for me. When read in the context of the other “Smart Chick” books, it’s my least favorite of the three.

In the first book, The Trouble With Tulip, photographer Danny Watkins realized he was in love with his childhood friend Jo Tulip. However, when she decided to set romantic relationships aside to focus on God, he secretly consented to wait for her.

Now, though, he’s going to take the plunge: he’s going to tell her he loves her! Jo, however, has no idea. Continue reading →

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“Kate Walden Directs: Bride of Slug Man” by Julie Mata

"Bride of Slug Man" by Julie MataThis story about a middle-grader with a passion for making movies is accessible to people of any age or any interest, and is an engaging, fun read.

Kate Walden is a seventh grader with dreams of a Hollywood director career. She’s already made one movie, and is determined to make a second. However, a new boy moves into her school and decides to make a movie, too. From there, the complications mount as she strives to show up the newcomer while scrounging for actors, props, and locations…and dealing with bullies and friend-issues. Ah, the simplicity of middle school. Continue reading →

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“The Trouble with Tulip” by Mindy Starns Clark

Characters That Won’t Easily Let You Go

41fUqy3TCVL._SX323_BO1,204,203,200_ Josephine “Jo” Tulip is an independent, take-charge kind of young woman. Her house is organized and spotless, and she’s considered an expert of household tricks, partly because of the newspaper column she writes about everything from removing stains from clothes and carpets to getting more use out of your cleaning supplies.

About some things, however, she’s woefully clueless. Continue reading →

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“Blott” by Daniel Parsons

Not C. S. Lewis, But He Could Have Been

Now I understand the kickback against independent publishing (sort of). Yet for all this manuscript’s unprofessionalism, the story still swept me along so that I had no choice but finish it.

The story centers around Blott, a boy whose village faces starvation due to a drought and is controlled almost exclusively by the chief member of the council. In an attempt to find relief for his people, Blott discovers things about himself and his world, and is forced to explore the strange abilities that separate him from the rest of the people, even from his parents and brother. He also struggles with a violent enjoyment of destruction that might come from some mysterious external puppet-master, or from a well of darkness in his own soul. Continue reading →

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“Book of Poisons” by Serita Stevens and Anne Bannon

No Such Thing As Iocane Powder

 I’m a quiet kind of person, but I have a peculiar hobby. That’s why I got the Book of Poisons. No, no, I write novels. Honest.

Especially useful for mystery writers, Book of Poisons details hundreds of toxins for causing havoc and death (to fictional characters, of course). Continue reading →

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“Ghost Trick”

Make Unforgettable Friends

Ghost_Trick_Phantom_Detective_cover_art

Identity crisis. Powers of the dead. Time-warping, mind-hopping fun.

Ghost Trick is a puzzle game developed by CapCom, and available for the Nintendo DS and iOS. With a smooth, touch-screen-oriented interface, challenging yet rewarding puzzles, and an enthralling storyline, it offers hours of rewarding entertainment. Continue reading →

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“The Emotion Thesaurus” by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi

Emotion_Thesaurus-Cover One of the most useful writing aides I have found along my journey has been The Emotion Thesaurus. In the constant quest to show readers our characters’ actions and let them deduce the underlying emotions and thoughts for themselves, The Emotion Thesaurus provides engrossing lists of physical tics, physiological sensations, and other characteristics that can be used to display a character’s internal state without reusing the same ones again and again. Continue reading →

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“Dreamlander” by K. M. Weiland

Characters You Will Fight For

  I liked it. Then I didn’t like it. Then I liked it again. I’ll explain.

Chris Redston grabs you from the very beginning. Ever since a fatal car crash in his immediate family left him virtually on his own, he’s done his best to move on and get over it. And as much as he regrets the way his deadbeat father buried his own pain in a bottle, he hasn’t completely written him off, repeatedly going downtown to bail his father out of jail for this or that minor thing. Continue reading →