Review: Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

Title: Caleb + Kate

By: Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

Reading Level: Young Adult Christian

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishing (Release May 2010)

BookWhisperer Rating:

 

 

Book Description:

As the popular darling of the junior class and heiress to the five-star Monrovi Inn empire, Kate has both everything and nothing. She's bored with school and life...until she locks eyes with Caleb at a school dance.

Caleb is new to Kate's exclusive prep school, and it's clear he doesn't fit in. In fact, he and his dad work in maintenance for Kate's father. And while Caleb knows better than to spend time with the boss's daughter, it seems that every time he tries to back away, something pulls him right back in.

When their parents demand that they are to stay away from each other, they learn of a fight between their families that occurred more than fifty years ago. It's a mystery Kate doesn't understand...but a legacy Caleb has endured his entire life.

With the world stacked against them, Caleb and Kate will have to walk by faith to find the path that God has planned for them.

Caleb and Kate has a spell binding story line that captures it’s readers from the book description alone. I have been anxiously awaiting this book arrival, and I found myself buzzing through the story so quickly I was done before I realized it. Caleb and Kate are amazing characters that demand your respect from page one. Being a Christian myself I love to find a Christian that tweeks your reading desire and spiritual all in one. Even more impressing was that religion was not only an aspect of this novel, but a true player with Kate relation of love and her life’s love. This is a wonderful novel for young adults and adults alike. Martinusen wrapped this entire story in a easy mastered story that will leave all readers begging for more. For the young hearted I believe that this novel is not only a entertaining read, but also a lesson as to what is truly important and responsibilities. The cover of this book is beautiful, and wonderful addition to my bookshelf. I can not only see myself admiring its presence, but I can also anticipate a return visit to this amazing story. For spiritual readers and non this is a beautifully created masterpiece that will keeping your interest.

**Special Thanks to Thomas Nelson for this review copy

New Feature on BookWhisperer

BookWhisperer is about to embark on a posting a new feature for the readers. We are going  to start an Authors Korner. Here you will find an introduction to all the new authors that BookWhisperer has the pleasure of meeting. This is my attempt to give the credit back to the authors. So much of what we post is about the books, and if it weren’t for the talented authors we would have none of this. So here is my way of declaring that I love the authors. If you are an author and would like to be posted here feel free to contact me. The contact is above; find my email there. I love each and every author that has the courage to publish a book. It takes a lot to put your works of art in others hands; knowing that there are people that might not like it. I don’t have that courage, and I commend you for yours.

For my readers, be on the lookout for these new posts. For starts I am working on a post for Ellen C Maze. She released her first novel November of last year. I have not had the pleasure of reading this novel yet, but don’t be concerned you will see a review so. Maze met with Magnolialand Entertainment’s Director Bradley Farris on 02/11/2010 regard movie rights. Ellen promises to keep us posted about the developments here.

Shortly, I will post the first Authors Korner, and am anxious for its regular appearance here at the BookWhisperer. Thank you for all those who follow me. Never in my life would I think this would be my hobby.

BookWhisperer IMM

In My Mailbox is a meme brought us by the Story Siren. This is a way for book   bloggers to preview that books they receive, and thus add to your TBR piles.  

Only have one to list this week.. Here we are!

Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (Review Copy)

Released: January 2009

Book Description:

Sometimes dying with the truth is better than living with a lie.

After a car accident puts Shauna McAllister in a coma and wipes out six months of her memory, she returns to her childhood home to recover, but her arrival is fraught with confusion.

Her estranged father, a senator bidding on the White House, and her abusive stepmother blame Shauna for the tragedy, which has left her beloved brother severely brain damaged. Leaning on Wayne Spade, a forgotten but hopeful lover who stays by her side, Shauna tries to sort out what happened that night by jarring her memory to life. Instead, she acquires a mysterious mental ability that will either lead her to truth or get her killed by the people trying to hide it.

In this blind game of cat and mouse that stares even the darkest memories in the face, Shauna is sure of only one thing: if she remembers, she dies

Review: The Sight by Judy Blundell

Title: The Sight

By: Judy Blundell

Reading Level: Young Adult (Release March 1st, 2010)

Recieved: Review Copy from Scholastic Books

BookWhisperer Rating:

                                      

Book Description:

Gracie has premonitions. They’ve haunted her since before her mother’s death, and she can’t get rid of them. She doesn’t know how to deal with them and she doesn’t want to--they’ve never led to anything good. She never knows whether she’s seeing the past, the present, or the future--it just comes to her. But Gracie is forced to try to use her premonitions. Her best friend, Emily, disappears, and the premonitions lead to the only clues to where she might be--and how she might be saved. Gracie’s long-absent father reappears, and his history appears to be mysteriously linked to the disappearance of a student many years ago--and the recent appearance of a body. Only Gracie’s premonitions lead to answers to some dark family secrets.

 

I received The Sight by Jude Watson as a review book from Scholastic Books. I was ecstatic to find that this is actually two novels in one. The first book being Premonitions and the second is Disappearance. These are the first two books in the a series; about a young girl by the name of Gracie. Gracie is not your typical girl after having been seeing visions since she was 10 years old. Although, Gracie finds herself fighting this fight alone after having lost her mother in a fatal car accident.

Premonitions follows a unique storyline. Watson uses Gracie's gift to work this story in reverse. She starts the story at the end, and works through the progression to fill you in on the remainder of the story. In this first story Gracie is a bit of a brat, but throughout the story you find many details explaining her past and reason for her hurtful attitude. I am exciting in completion to find that this character turns around, and that she begins to embrace her new home and life. It was intriguing to also read a story where a victim can understand and sympathize with the villain. Gracie uses her experience with Jonah to grasp the changes and struggles that she is experiencing her own life. This is a very twisted story, and extremely suspenseful. You will find yourself buzzing right through the story. I was anxious to jump right into the next story.

Disappearance is set a little bit after Premonitions. You find yourself delved deep into this story where Gracie has made a home with Diego and Shay. At first, it appears that there is no longer a struggle to belong and that Gracie has finally found a home. Though, you soon find Watson carries another bullet when a murder and secret past cause Gracie to have to question her new life all over again. In this second novel, Gracie is beginning to really work with her visions. Breaking them down and discovering what they really mean. This is author is a very suspenseful writer; and she is constantly putting Gracie in situations that make the reader cringe knowing that catastrophe is just around the corner. I would love to read more of this series, but it appears that there were no more books.

The review copy that I received of this book is The Sight; which is actually a new book that they have combined Premonitions and Disappearance that were originally released 2005. On to my favorite part of the review COVERS! This is a very attractive cover; the black and white image but the eyes appear to be glowing a purple. That is fantastic, it is very professional and eye catching. I believe that the image is very fitting for being novels about a young girl that has visions. Great cover for a great story.....

 

Trailer Teasers: Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

I am anxious awaiting this novel as. This novel promises to be unique and something that we have not seen before..Release date scheduled for May 2010!! Don't miss it.

Eclipse Trailer

I bet this will be the best one yet.... I can not wait to see this movie!!!!!! June1st is just around the corner.

Cover Alert!!

Check it out!!! New Cover for Night Star. This is the fifth book in the Immortals Series..

Book Description:

At the start of this mesmerizing new installment in the Immortals series Ever and Damen are still separated by the poison lingering in Damen’s body. Their only hope of being together is the antidote that was spilled on Jude’s shirt when he killed their enemy Roman. Now Haven is in possession of the shirt—and she’s out for revenge. Blinded by rage and grief, Haven— who blames Ever for killing Roman—could be Ever and Damen’s deadliest enemy yet. Ever is forced to make an impossible choice—allow Haven to destroy her and her dearest friends, or send her to the Shadowland, the abyss for lost souls.

Review: Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw

Title: Anxious Hearts

By: Tucker Shaw

Publisher: Abrams Books (Release May 1st, 2010)

My Copy: Uncorrected Proof from Abrams Books

BookWhisperer Rating:

Book Description:

“Evangeline,” he repeated, calling at a whisper. “Evangeline.” He was not calling that she may hear, he was calling that somehow her soul might know that he was devoted entirely to her, only to her. “Evangeline, I will find you.”
Eva and Gabe explore the golden forest of their seaside Maine town, unknowingly tracing the footsteps of two teens, Evangeline and Gabriel, who once lived in the idyllic wooded village of Acadia more than one hundred years ago. On the day that Evangeline and Gabriel were be wed, their village was attacked and the two were separated. And now in the present, Gabe has mysteriously disappeared from Eva.
A dreamlike, loose retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous love poem “Evangeline,” Anxious Hearts tells an epic tale of unrequited love and the hope that true love can be reunited.

Anxious Hearts is a heartbreaking tale of two couples more than a hundred years apart living the same love and loss. This is an intriguing story line that leaves you questioning if these are supposed to be fated lovers living their love over and over. After having finished this novel I don’t know that this was intended.

This was a very quick and enjoyable story. Although, throughout this story I was haunted by a feeling that something was missing. The characters while enjoyable where not complete. I don’t feel that we totally knew the characters; which leaves the reader with a very noticeable feeling of being the outsider. This is just one of several things that stand out in my mind, and drew my attention away from this story. The setting was a disturbing aspect of this novel. Evangeline and Gabriel are supposed to be a couple from long ago; while Eva and Gabe were supposed to be, I believe, present day. While reading this story, I would find myself confused about the time line because it would seem something's were inappropriate for the suggested era. Without exact placement of time in a story, it is very easy to lose a reader with the writing. Lastly, Anxious Hearts does not seem to have a very noticeable climax point. I was suffering from a feeling of wandering through the pages. You come away with a feeling of running around the pool twenty times, but never having jumped right in the middle to know what the water is like. Really I have to reign in back in here  and tell you that I did enjoy this story. I just can not offer it the best rating because I have particular problems with the story. It is easier to enjoy this story when you don’t put a whole lot of thought in it. Read it primarily for enjoyment, and you will do fine. It is when you try to analyze this book that you will find yourself with a world of questions.

As we all know BookWhisperer is a Cover Freak. So, I have to say that I love this cover. The attention grabber for me with this book was the cover alone. This is one that does not take much thought for the meaning behind the cover, but it is still BEAUTIFUL.

A Penny For Your Thoughts!!!

So I have always had a bit of a routine...  I get my books I post it them with the release date, and I review the book close to that date. My orginial thoughts were that if I did this it would be fresh on my readers mind, and they would be more likely to buy a book that they did not have to pre order.... Now I am wondering about my reasoning, and not sure if I am reviewing the books as I should be.... What are your thought, process, beliefs, etc.... Let's she what everyone else things, and if I should change the way I review..

Review: The Crazy School by Cornelia Read

Title: The Crazy School

By: Cornelia Read

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Feb 12, 2010)

BookWhisperer Rating:

             

 

 

Book Description:

Madeline Dare has finally escaped rust-belt Syracuse, New York, for the lush Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts. After her husband's job offer falls through, Maddie signs on as a teacher at the Santangelo Academy, a boarding school for disturbed teenagers. Behind the academy's ornate gates, she discovers a disturbing realm where students and teachers alike must submit to the founder's bizarre therapeutic regimen. From day one, Maddie feels uneasy about smooth-talking Dr. Santangelo but when she questions his methods, she's appalled to find that her fellow teachers would rather turn on each other than stand up for themselves, much less protect the students in their care. A chilling event confirms Maddie's worst suspicions, then hints at an even darker secret history, one that twines through the academy's very heart. Cut off from the outside world, Maddie must join forces with a small band of the school's most violently rebellious students-kids whose troubled grip on reality may well prove to be her only chance of salvation.

The Crazy School is the sequel to Field of Darkness. Not having read the first novel this was a little rough at the start. Madeline Dare seems drastically out of place in this Santangelo Academy. I quickly found reasoning for the title in that this was a very disturbing novel. This book had spent quite some time on my TBR list, and was anxious to get my start once having receiving my review copy. Although, I was distracted much of this novel by the over use of  detail by this author. I find it tiresome to understand all the history comparison within the novel. While I enjoyed the suspense and story line the over use of detail left me distracted, and gave the novel a feel of rambling through some of the chapters. I ultimately found the story enjoyable, but I am easily read to move forward and start the next novel.

BookWhisperer IMM

In My Mailbox is a meme brought us by the Story Siren. This is a way for book   bloggers to preview that books they receive, and thus add to your TBR piles.  

I had an awesome week this week so let’s check em out!

The Gift by Deb Stover

Publisher: Love Spell 10/27/2009

Book Description: A gift turned nightmare drives Beth Dearborn to abandon all she holds dear, until fate demands she face Ty Malone, danger, and destiny....

 

 

Prilla’s Talent

Publisher: Papercutz 03/30/2010

In this story, the Fairy Prilla appears at the home of a rich, lonely “Clumsy” (human) boy named Kenton. When Kenton decides to trap her in a jar and keep her as a pet, she vows to change this cynical child from a sad introvert to a happy young boy. Prilla can disappear from the jar and return to Neverland at will, but she doesn’t let Kenton know that! When it turns out that Prilla needs Kenton’s help to save one of her fairy friends, the tables quickly turn in this delightful and heartwarming story from Disney’s Fairies.

 

The Lighter Side of Life and Death

Publisher: Random House Books May 25th, 2010

Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true, and the future looks golden.

Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake, and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if that means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive twenty-three-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world

 

Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma

Publisher: Thomas Nelson May 4th, 2010

Private school, rich friends, vacations in France--Kate has it all, except a belief in love.

When Kate's family purchases a hotel in the Pacific Northwest, she enters a world that is wholly unknown to her. She never has any privacy because of the constant flow of guests. And as the hotel owner's daughter, she struggles to make friends.

Then she meets Caleb, a strange combination of working-class, Hawaiian culture, and Christian bad boy. He talks about love in an all new way that she finds so alluring. But the two have nothing in common. He rarely smiles, rides a motorcycle with a rough crowd from town, and worst of all, he totally ignores Kate. But Kate has something that he needs and she resolves to prove to him that what she has doesn't define who she is.

 

The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer

Publisher: Scholastic Press 05/1/2010)

Abby Goodwin is sure her sister Tabitha isn't a murderer. But her parents don't agree. Her friends don't agree. And the cops definitely don't agree. Tabitha is a drop-out, a stoner, a girl who's obsessed with her tutor, Clyde Andrews...until he ends up dead. Tabitha runs away, and leaves Abby following the trail of clues. Each piece of evidence points to Tabitha, but it also appears that Clyde had secrets of his own. And enemies. Like his brother, who Abby becomes involved with...until he falls under suspicion.

Is Abby getting closer to finding the true murderer? Or is someone leading her down a twisted false path?

 

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV Books  07/20/2010

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. With her life about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.
But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people—suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.

 

Thief Eyes by Janni Lee Simner

Publisher: Random House Books (04/27/2010)

After her mother mysteriously disappears, sixteen-year-old Haley convinces her father to take her to Iceland, where her mother was last seen. There, amidst the ancient fissures and crevices of that volcanic island, Haley meets gorgeous Ari, a boy with a dangerous side who appoints himself her protector.
When Haley picks up a silver coin that entangles her in a spell cast by her ancestor Hallgerd, she discovers that Hallgerd's spell and her mother's disappearance are connected to a chain of events that could unleash terrifying powers and consume the world. Haley must find a way to contain the growing fires of the spell—and her growing attraction to Ari.

**Just little FYI finishing up Crazy School and going to start reading all of my books to be released next month. I like to review them closer to the review date so that you can rush out and buy them. Below is a picture of my stack of May releases….

• Wereling by Steve Feasy
• Angel Star by Jennifer Murgia
• The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
• Caleb + Kate by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma
• The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer
• The Sight by Judy Blundell
• Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw

 

 

Kiddy Korner Review: Ballroom Bonanza by Nina Rycroft

Title: Ballroom Bonanza

By: Nina Rycroft

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

BookWhisperer Rating:

                                                  

Very imaginative book in which the alphabet is the lesson. The story is of a dance competition that the author attempt to match letter of animal and dance style to alphabet. While, it was a very inventive idea the story did not manage to hold my children’s attention as long as I would hope. The illustration was very detailed, and while we did enjoy admiring some of the attire of the animals it still was a little over the top for my children. This book will need to be read by an adult for the Ages recommended. As a mother of an advanced reader; I noticed my daughter really struggled with this book due to the dance names. A perk of this book is that it is also a hidden picture book, so you also will find enjoyment in finding the hidden objects. Although, even in this with detail of the illustrations this proved to be a chore. Take caution is selecting this book, and it is not recommended for a practicing reader.

Kiddy Korner Review: Waiting Out the Storm by Koann Early Macken

Title: Waiting out the Storm

By: Joann Early Macken    Illustrated by: Susan Gaber

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

BookWhisperer Rating:

                                          

Mother and Daughter can greatly admire this story. Short tale of a mother and daughter caught in a storm on their way home. As Daughter asks questions about the storm Mother answers easing child’s fears of the storm. In the end, Mother comforts Daughter completely with the knowledge that storm or no storm Mommy’s is there to keep her safe. This is a wonderful story that forces emphasis on the comfort of Mother to Daughter. Very beautifully illustrated that makes reading this book even more enjoyable. Definitely worth time and money.

Kiddy Korner: Bear in the Air by Susan Meyers

Title: Bear in the Air

By: Susan Meyers     Illustrated by: Amy Bates

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Book Whisperer Rating:

                                                            

Bear in the Air is a book that is illustration and writing are both equally beautiful. Parent and Child find in my home that this is a repetitive reader. The tale is over a stuffed bear that gets lost from his little boy. It is a tale of the journey that stuffed bear will take, and in the end finding himself right back in his owners arms. The story takes on a rhyming since resembling that of the a familiar child’s rhyme. I love the layout of this book, and never tire of reading it myself.

Kiddy Korner Review: The Shadow by Donna Diamond

Title: The Shadow (Picture Book)

BookWhisperer Rating:

           

This is a wordless book about a little girl and her fear of her shadow. Emphasizing that things can frighten you, but once you look closer it might be nothing at all. I feel that it is important to teach children lesson of not being scared of everything. Although, I greatly fear that the illustration of this book it a little too realistic; and vaguely scarier than was necessary. I also feel that the final page of the book portraying a monster under that bed was ludicrous.  Once the child had discovered that the fear was at her shadow; the book ends with a scary shadow looking out from under the bed. In my experience reading this book with my own child it literally scared her and she was looking to me for confirmation that nothing was under the bed. I have to reiterate that it was just a story. I don’t even know that I will be putting this book in the bookshelf for a later visit.

Kiddy Korner Review: Dad and Pop by Kelly Bennett

Title: Dad and Pop

Illustrated by Paul Meisel

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

 

Book Whisperer Rating:

              

Dad and Pop is an excellent story for children that can be easily related too. My daughter was immediately relating this story to her Pappy and Daddy upon completion. She expressed her love for this book repeatedly, and I have found us repeating the story on a regular basis. I love a story that will allow my children to feel like the story is about them. I was especially impressed with the emphasis being directed to the one and best thing about Dad and Pop is that their love makes them very much alike. I think it is wonderful to emphasize the love for children. I would definitely recommend this book for all children.