Carol's Notebook – Page 621

W is for Warders

January 13, 2010January 13, 2010 by Carol9 Comments

Vicki of Reading At The Beach hosts A-Z Wednesday. Today's letter is W. This is one I read in the spring of 2008 and I still remember. Of course, I'm waiting for the sequel, which hasn't come out yet. Last I heard, the author was hoping for 2010. Warders of the Gate by Mark Murray In Rhillai there is no High King, and the nine dukes of the realm fight amongst themselves for the coveted seat. Alisandra, a powerful mage, wants nothing of it and she plots to put a puppet on the throne. someone that she can control. But in her attempt, she opens a Gate to another world and provides entry to the Hylnan--an alien race bent on destroying everything in sight. Caught in the midst of the mayhem are the Warders--the sworn protectors of these magical Gates. Using their abilities to shape shift they fight against the oncoming power struggles in an attempt to keep the Gates open with the...

Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz

January 12, 2010January 23, 2010 by Carol6 Comments

Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz I'm a fan of the Arcane Society series. This is the 7th and I've read each of them. I know what to expect from the series, and enjoy them. If you haven't read the series, I would probably start with one of the earlier ones. This one does not give you much of the back story; it expects you to already know a lot about the society members. Take two people with special talents, add a touch of danger, physical attraction, respect and love, and you've got the formula. This one takes place in modern times. Chloe Harper is a private investigator who can read dreamlight and access dream psi. Jack Winters is the man who needs her help. He is convinced he is falling prey to the family curse and his only hope is to find the Burning Lamp and a woman who can work it before he becomes a monster. The two are immediately...

Teaser Tuesday

January 12, 2010January 11, 2010 by Carol11 Comments

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from...that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given. Please avoid spoilers! My teaser: Clients came in an endless variety of guises, but you did not last long in the investigation business unless you learned to distinguish between two broad groups: safe and dangerous. Jack Winters was clearly in the second category. -pg. 13, Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along. My copy was borrowed from the library. I am an Amazon associate....

Mailbox Monday and Library Loot

January 11, 2010 by Carol17 Comments

Thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday. I got one in the mail this week. Escapade by Walter Satterthwait (from Paperbackswap.com) Amber received one in an early birthday package. The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder I also picked up a couple at the library this past week. Library Loot is co-hosted by Eva and Marg. Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz Heart of Stone by C. E. Murphy Let's see. There's two more on the stack. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (I bought with a gift certificate.) More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell (for our Sunday School class at church.) What books found their way to your house this week?...

Fuzzimal Puppies by Theresa Hutnick and Megan Smith

January 10, 2010January 7, 2010 by Carol8 Comments

Isn't he adorable. Amber (9) made him with a Klutz book she got for Christmas, Fuzzimal Puppies by Theresa Hutnick and Megan Smith. The book has directions to make these adorable puppies and give each their own flair and personality. Everything you need to make five is there, including super-shaggy terry-cloth pipe cleaners, fuzzy-wuzzy novelty yarn, felt for ears and collars, googly eyes, glue, and a supply of shiny jewels. There are also pop-out carriers, adding to the cuteness factor. The directions were simple, easy-to-follow and look how perfect he turned out. The suggested age is 9-12, and Amber did it with no help from me....

Game Night – Cir*Kis

January 9, 2010January 8, 2010 by Carol5 Comments

Cir*Kis Manufacturer: Hasbro Year: 2009 Players: 2 - 4 Ages: 8 and up Amber (9) got Cir*Kis for Christmas and we've played it several times since then. It's a great "abstract strategy" family game. Players take turns placing one of their nine differently-shaped pieces on the beveled game board next to the last piece played. You complete Circles and Stars to score points. First player to 40 wins. It's easy to learn, but the more often you play, the more strategy you can find. You can plan ahead on how to get points, even if others score too. You can block other players from placing a piece. If they don't have a piece they can play, they have to pass. We've played it with Amber (9) and adults, and she seems to be fairly even, with just as much chance of winning. It's also a pretty game, with the different colored tiles forming different patterns. I'd recommend it for families. I actually enjoy it more than...