Review - The Carols of Christmas: A Celebration of the Surprising Stories Behind Your Favorite Holiday Songs by Andrew Gant

TITLE:    The Carols of Christmas: A Celebration of the Surprising Stories Behind Your Favorite Holiday Songs

AUTHOR:    Andrew Gant
INFO:    Paperback Hardcover, Non-Fiction, 216 pages
PUBLISHED:   Thomas Nelson Books, 2015
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:   From Oxford professor and renowned British composer, a joyous account of the history behind our favorite carols. 

Everyone loves a carol - in the end, even Ebenezer Scrooge. They have the power to summon up a special kind of mid-winter mood, like the aroma of gingerbread or the twinkle of lights on a tree. It's a kind of magic. 

But how did they get that magic? Andrew Gant - choirmaster, church musician, university professor and writer - tells the story of some twenty carols, each accompanied by the lyrics and music, unraveling a captivating, and often surprising, tale of great musicians and thinkers, saints and pagans, shepherd boys and choirboys. Readers get to delve into the history of such favorites as "Good King Wenceslas", "Away in a Manger", and "O, Tannenbaum", discovering along the way how "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" came to replace "Hark, how all the welkin' ring" and how Ralph Vaughan Williams applied the tune of an English folk song about a dead ox to a poem by a nineteenth century American pilgrim to make "O Little Town of Bethlehem".

A charming book that brims with anecdote, expert knowledge, and Christmas spirit, this is a fittingly joyous account of one of the best-loved musical traditions.

MY TAKE:   Anyone who grew up singing and listening to the classic Christmas carols will enjoy reading of their origins and their paths to becoming the songs we now know. Many of them have roots in Pagan culture as well as beginnings that have absolutely nothing to do with celebrating Christ and Christmas. 

This is a very well-researched book, filled to the brim with lovely details and facts. I did find myself bogged down in a couple of spots just because of the sheer amount of information presented. It was very interesting but at times a bit of a job to get back on track. I always did though. 

I was very pleased that the author included the (sheet) music and lyrics. I found myself singing along to many of the carols as I was reading. I'm looking forward to getting to the piano and seeing if I can remember how to play - just in time for Christmas.
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Get your copy in time for the upcoming holidays, will make a lovely gift.

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo 

Book Depository / IndieBound / Powell's Books

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact by A.J. Hartley

TITLE:    Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact

AUTHOR:    A.J. Hartley
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 431 pages
PUBLISHED:   Penguin Razorbill, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:   Eleven-year-old Darwen Arkwright has spent his whole life in a tiny town in England. So when he is forced to move to Atlanta, Georgia, to live with his aunt, he knows things will be different - but what he finds there is beyond even his wildest imaginings!


Darwen discovers an enchanting world through the old mirror hanging in his closet - a world that holds as many dangers as it does wonders. Scrobblers on motorbikes with nets big enough to fit a human boy. Gnashers with no eyes, but monstrous mouths full of teeth. Flittercrakes with bat-like bodies and the faces of men. Along with his new friends Rich and Alexandra, Darwen becomes entangled in an adventure and a mystery that involves the safety of his entire school. They soon realize that the creatures are after something in our world - something that only human children possess.

MY TAKE:   I love being taken on new adventures.  Darwen Arkwright takes us on a grand one with his new American friends.  In Darwen, A.J. Wright has created a very likable and relatable hero.  Darwen is truly a fish out of the water when he's dropped into a new life in America.  The proper young English boy is having a hard time fitting in when he accidentally sees a strange creature in the mall and follows it into a dusty old mirror shop.  Little does he know that the odd owner of the shop will soon set him on a dangerous and mysterious path to a world on the other side of a magical mirror.  


This is a fast-paced and fun story that will appeal to adventurous explorers of all ages.  I especially think that boys of about 9 or older will get a kick out of the various creatures and gadgets that Darwen comes across. Wannabe archaeologist Rich is a stalwart friend to Darwen as well as an interesting character on his own.  Girls will enjoy the eccentric Alexandra as she becomes a surprisingly stout supporter of the awkward Darwen.  I was quite engrossed in the tale and enjoyed imagining the creatures that the author described. 


This story is destined to be a classic and definitely has a place on the keeper shelf.  I highly recommend this story, especially if you or the kids like jumping into another world for a while.  Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact would also make a great gift this holiday season. I have a couple of young readers in mind to receive a copy.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Get your copy:

Amazon 

Kindle

The Book Depository

Barnes & Noble

Nook

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Santa Club by Kelly Moss and Jim Keserich

TITLE:    The Santa Club
AUTHOR:    Kelly Moss ~ Illustrated by Jim Keserich
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction, 32 pages
PUBLISHED:   Palmary Press, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:   A delightful book with captivating illustrations, The Santa Club transitions your child from receiving gifts to experiencing the joy of giving. With sensitivity, faith, and love, The Santa Club tackles the serious question, "Is Santa Claus Real?" To be read with your child, this wonderful book not only answers that sometimes "dreaded" question but it also addresses the questions of why Santa comes at Christmas and who was the first Santa. The Santa Club is a wonderful parenting resource and a stunning children's book, and is sure to become an annual family favorite.

MY TAKE:    Many parents dread the day when their child asks them if Santa Claus is real. This charming new book by Kelly Moss is a lovely way to ease into that discussion.  The colorful illustrations by Jim Keserich will delight both kids and adults.  They complement the author's explanation brilliantly and will capture the attention and imagination.


The author has created a story that I think will become a family tradition.  It invites the young reader with questions to join an exclusive club ~ "The Santa Club".  There is a caution that the reader can't share what they've learned with others who aren't already a member.  Ms. Moss brings together elements of Santa and the joy of giving with that of Christ and the reason for Christmas.  Her book is appropriate for kids to read by themselves or with an adult.  It will help keep the magic alive even for older kids who have already decided they know the truth.  The true spirit of giving will be reinforced.

I highly recommend The Santa Club for all.  It is a very gift-worthy book in a beautiful hardcover format with the full color illustrations.  There is a really neat page in the back for a new Santa Club member where the child's photo can be placed.  More info can be found at TheSantaClub.com.    

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Copies available in plenty of time for the holidays at:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

The Book Depository

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Guest Post + Review - The Snowman's Revenge by Mark Smythe

Please welcome Mark Smythe, author of The Snowman's Revenge to One Book Shy as he tells us how the book came about.  

Why I Wrote the Book

A Joke

A religious man is on top of a roof during a great flood. A man comes by in a boat and says "get in, get in!"  The religious man replies, "No, I have faith in God, he will grant me a miracle."

Later, the water is up to his waist and another boat comes by and the guy tells him to get in again. He responds that he has faith in God and God will give him a miracle. With the water about chest high, another boat comes to rescue him, but he turns down the offer again because "God will grant me a miracle."

With the water at chin high, a helicopter throws down a ladder and they tell him to get in, mumbling with the water in his mouth, he again turns down the request for help, stating that a miracle of God will save him yet.

He arrives at the gates of heaven with broken faith and says to Peter, “I thought God would grant me a miracle and I have been let down."

St. Peter chuckles and responds, "I don't know what you're complaining about, we sent you three boats and a helicopter."

Explanation

If I’m even lucky enough to be invited to the gates of heaven, I didn’t want St Peter to say to me: “Hey Mark, we sent you some pretty good ideas, like that snowman book thing. Why didn’t you do anything with that?”

So, it was something that just HAD to be done. Despite the time and all of the work and the ongoing expenditures and all of the seemingly endless efforts required, it ……. just …….. had …….. to ……… be ……… done ………., regardless.

Besides, it was great fun and thoroughly enjoyable and a great learning experience, as well.

And, when I see the smiles on little faces, like when I read it to a classroom at our local elementary school, it certainly makes it all very much worthwhile.

Mark Smythe

BIO

Mark Smythe resides in a small, rural town located in the beautiful Southern geography of Western New York State. It is a lovely and quaint agricultural community, just South of Buffalo, New York.

He and his two children, Cassandra and Alexander, live on a picturesque, turn-of-the-century farm complete with a charming old white farmhouse, quaint red barns and wooden pasture fences.

Mark is an Interior Structural Fire Fighter with a local Volunteer Fire Department, and also works in the field of Bio-Oncology Diagnostics.

TITLE:    The Snowman's Revenge
AUTHOR:    Mark Smythe, illustrations by Mike Motz
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 44 pages
PUBLISHED:   Mark Smythe, 2008
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  If you were left out in the cold snow all by yourself, would you be mad? Of course you would! Well, this snowman is out for revenge, especially after he sees those kids in the nice warm house, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate! So, let's see what happens in this delightful story, nicely flowing with rhymed verse, beautifully illustrated and quite humorous indeed. So lovable, it's sure to be an instant favorite and a timeless classic with "kids" of all ages.

MY TAKE:    This is the perfect book for reading to the younger crowd or having them read it back to you.  It is the story of a disgruntled snowman who is left out in the cold while the kids are having fun inside without him.  He sees them enjoying the warm house and even warmer cocoa that Mom makes and starts to get a little upset.  As he plots his revenge, nature takes its course and... you will just have to read the book for the rest.


A delightful tale that is a quick and easy read.  The illustrations are bright and colorful and are a perfect match to the rhythm of the story.  I think it would be a fantastic gift for the whole family this holiday season.  (I do caution against reading it to the really young as the snowman is a little bit scary when he's mad.)  Recommended for ages 4 and above.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Start your gift shopping now:  
Amazon, The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm (World of Warcraft) by Christie Golden

TITLE:    World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm
AUTHOR/EDITOR:     Christie Golden
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction, 328
PUBLISHED:   Gallery, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4165-5074-7
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Gallery for Review

FROM BACK COVER:  ***Thrall, wise shaman and the warchief of the Horde, has sensed a disturbing change . . . Long ago, Azeroth’s destructive native elementals raged across the world until the benevolent titans imprisoned them within the Elemental Plane. Despite the titans’ intervention, many elementals have ended up back on Azeroth. Over the ages, shaman like Thrall have communed with these spirits and, through patience and dedication, learned to soothe roaring infernos, bring rain to sun-scorched lands, and otherwise temper the elementals’ ruinous influence on the world of Azeroth.

Now Thrall has discovered that the elementals no longer heed the shaman’s call. The link shared with these spirits has grown thin and frayed, as if Azeroth itself were under great duress. While Thrall seeks answers to what ails the confused elements, he also wrestles with the orcs’ precarious future as his people face dwindling supplies and growing hostility with their night elf neighbors.

Meanwhile, King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind is considering violent action in response to mounting tensions between the Alliance and the Horde, a hard-line approach that threatens to alienate those closest to him, including his son, Anduin. The conflicted young prince has set out to find his own path, but in doing so, he risks becoming entangled in political instability that is setting the world on edge.

The fate of Azeroth’s great races is shrouded in a fog of uncertainty, and the erratic behavior of the elemental spirits, troubling though it is, may only be the first ominous warning sign of the cataclysm to come.  

MY TAKE:   As a former WOW (World of Warcraft) player, I was really looking forward to reading this book.  I hadn't read any of the books written about this fantastical game world and I wasn't disappointed.  Author Christie Golden captures the feel and spirit of the game while also telling a fast-moving and colorful story.  I don't think a person has to be a fan of the game to enjoy the book, although there are several references that a non-gamer might not understand.  

The characters, while not Golden's own creations, are well written and engaging.  I used to play on the side of the Alliance which is the "enemy" of the Horde leaders who are the center of this story.  I learned a lot about the members of the races that make up the Horde itself.   The reader is drawn into their world and traveling along with them around Azeroth.  This book definitely made me want to go back to playing the game ~ alas, we don't have fast enough Internet out here in the boonies... 

I recommend this book to fans of adventure and fantasy, especially those readers who are WOW players.  It's an engrossing read no matter which way you approach it.  I think it would also make a great gift for gamers!

MY RATING:    3.5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Eclipsed by Shadow: The Legend of the Great Horse by John Royce

Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of solitaire.  It is a grand passion.   ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

TITLE:    Eclipsed by Shadow

AUTHOR/EDITOR:    John Royce
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 273 pages
PUBLISHED:   Micron Press 2008
ISBN#:   978-0-9724121-3-1
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Author for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  "Eclipsed by Shadow" begins an award-winning trilogy adventure into mankind's past. A horse-loving teenager is lost in history with only her knowledge of horsemanship to help her survive.    

MY TAKE:  I don't know if I will have enough adjectives to describe just how much

I LOVE THIS BOOK! 

Although I would like to apologize to the author John Royce first.  I've had this book for quite a while and have just now got a chance to share my review ~ it's one that was worth the wait though!  And just in time to TOP my GIFT-WORTHY list..

Horse-crazy teenager Meagan Roberts is the proud owner of an amazingly rare Palomino Thoroughbred filly (girl horse) named "Promise".  As Meagan dreams of the future and waits for Promise to grow enough to start training, many strange people start showing up and trying to buy the unusual filly from the Roberts family.  The prices they offer are both staggering and suspicious.  A strange old woman also comes to visit after the filly is born at dawn on June 21st ~ the summer solstice.  She makes some odd comments before going on her way.  There is a lot of interest in this "backyard" foal.

Meagan receives an intriguing invitation for her and a guardian to luncheon at a mansion nearby.  The mysterious hostess is Mrs. Bridgestone, the strange old lady who had come to see Promise.  The reason for her interest becomes clear as she reveals that she believes Promise to be one of the legendary "Great Horses".  These horses are those who were prominent in history, making their own marks along with humans and gods.  Meagan believes Mrs. Bridgestone and wonders about the warning she gives her to not ride Promise.  She feels this could bring darkness according to a hundred year old letter and verse written by the beloved horseman Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce :

A hundred years hence on this westmost shore,

The Great Horse comes to men once more.

History lights the future's course,

With lessons learned from the Horse;

So born of loss and mother's grief,

The Great Horse takes a might leap.

Eclipsed by shadow, the golden spark

Shall wing her rider into the dark.

Meagan's mother Jennifer doesn't believe the legend, even though almost every line seems to be referring to Promise.  Jennifer won't let Meagan see Mrs. Bridgestone after the visit because she thinks the old lady is crazy.  I won't go too much into detail as to what occurs next, but Promise and Meagan start on a journey where they visit other 'Great Horses' and make their own mark on the past of both humans and equines.

The author is obviously a horseman himself.  He writes about horses, their care and behaviour with the authority of one who has lived with them.  His writing is very clear and very engaging.  I saw myself in Meagan as I was one of those kids who would spend 10 hours cleaning the barn before I'd spend 1 hour helping in the house. (I'm still that way I'm afraid.)  She is an endearing and very likable guide on this horseback ride through time.

History, fantasy, myth, adventure and proper equine care all shine brightly in this first book in the trilogy.  Royce weaves all of these elements together beautifully and young readers probably won't even notice that they are learning about history and horse care while on this great ride back through time.  I learned quite a bit myself and I grew up on a horse ranch with horses always in my life.  This was a "can't put down" book for me.

There is a very small bit of violence (as there always is when war is involved) but I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone over about 10 or 11.  Especially horselovers or adventurers.  Young horsemen and horsewomen will see themselves as I did in the bond that is shared by Meagan and Promise and that which Jennifer had shared with Moose ~ Promise's dam.  (Dam is what the mare is called when she gives birth or foals.) 

This is definitely a book that adults and kids can both read and discuss. There is a thorough glossary in the back that would be an extremely useful tool for all.  On the learning side, I think this would be a fantastic series for riding instructors and first time horse owners as well.  For the adventure and fantasy lovers, some other readers have compared this to an equine version of the "Harry Potter" series. It's a fun and engrossing story that has just begun and none of us will want to end! 

The 2nd installment,  The Golden Spark is available now.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!!  This is one of those series where I could read all three books in one long session if I had them - it's that addictive.  Go HERE to learn more about the author and the series.

MY RATING:    5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:  Amazon, The Book Depository, IndieBound, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Songs of Love & Death by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois

TITLE:    Songs of Love and Death: All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    Editors George R. R. Martin & Gardner Dozois
INFO:    Hardcover, Fiction, 468
PUBLISHED:   Gallery Books, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4391-5014-6
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Gallery Books for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  In this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate.

Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “The Thing About Cassandra,” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.


International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost.


New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “Love Hurts,” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart.


Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.


Discover the many realms of the heart with this extraordinary cast of acclaimed authors:


PETER S. BEAGLE
JO BEVERLEY
JIM BUTCHER
JACQUELINE CAREY
DIANA GABALDON
NEIL GAIMAN
YASMINE GALENORN
M.L.N. HANOVER
ROBIN HOBB
CECELIA HOLLAND
TANITH LEE
MARJORIE M. LIU
MARY JO PUTNEY
LINNEA SINCLAIR
MELINDA SNODGRASS
LISA TUTTLE
CARRIE VAUGHN

MY TAKE:   This book was a must-read for me as soon as I read that Diana Gabaldon had contributed a new story for this collection.  Her "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows" was well worth the wait.  It ties up some unanswered questions about Roger Mackenzie's father Jeremy as well as opening up some more lines from "An Echo in the Bone".

Many other favorite authors added their all-original tales of star-crossed love for this happy, sad, tear-jerking, smile-making group of shorts.  While there were a couple of stories that I didn't really care for (as happens with any collection), most of them have reaffirmed my enjoyment of the authors' writing or introduced me to a few new-to-me writers that I will seek out in the future.

Two of my top picks along with Diana Gabaldon would be Jo Beverly with her inventive tale "The Marrying Maid" inspired by Tatiana and Oberon's continual toying with humankind and "Blue Boots" from Robin Hobb which follows the lingering love story of a minstrel and a kitchen girl.

I highly recommend this collection and I think it would be a great gift idea for the avid reader on your gift list.
   
MY RATING:    4.5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Amazon, The Book Depository, Powell's Books

 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.