Friday Finds: 5-14-10

Here are my finds this week!

Frenzy (Dreamhouse Kings)

by Robert Liparulo

Their destiny is to fix history. Their dream is to get home.


When you live in a house that's really a gateway between past and present, you have to be ready for anything. It's a painful fact the Kings have faced since moving to Pinedale eight days ago. Desperately trying to rescue their mother from an unknown time and place, brothers Xander and David have lunged headlong into the chaos of history's greatest--and most volatile--events. But their goal has continually escaped their grasp.

And worse: Finding Mom is only a small part of what they must do, thanks to the barbaric Taksidian. His ruthless quest to sieze their house and its power from them has put not only the family, but all of mankind, in grave danger.

Somehow, the key to it all hinges on Uncle Jesse's words to the boys: "Fixing time is what our family was made to do." But how can they fix a world that has been turned updisde down--much less ever find their way home?

At long last, the secrets of the house and the King family are revealed in the stunning conclusion to this epic series.

Read more about Frenzy.

Moon Spinners: A Seaside Knitters Mystery

by Sally Goldenbaum

Stitch and sleuth in the third delightful knitting mystery from the author of Patterns in the Sand.

In the quaint fishing village of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, the Seaside Knitters are always looking for a new project. Their latest is helping their friend Gracie Santos open the Lazy Lobster and Soup Café on Pelican Pier. But they get sidetracked when Gracie’s aunt Sophia goes flying off the cliff in her red Ferrari—and it was no accident. As gossip builds, and rumors circulate, the Seaside Knitters must stitch together the clues if they’re to understand a killer’s strange pattern.

Friday Finds: 12-11-2009

Here are my finds this week!




Whirlwind by Robert Liparulo

They've been to three worlds in less than a day. Time isn't just running out...it's running wild.

David King is reeling from his travels through history-and the evil he's found there. The last thing he needs is his great-great-uncle Jesse's hospital-bed instructions: You can't simply do nothing. You must fix things.

David and his brother Xander's search for their abducted mother has repeatedly led them on strange and terrifying journeys as they've stepped through the portals of the creepy old house and into some of history's most turbulant moments...and confronted an unimaginably bleak vision of the future.

Now Jesse's words saddle them with an obligation to not only visit the past, but the need to rewrite it.

Fulfilling their purpose will take everything they have, both mentally and physically. But they have no choice...because everything in the past-and the future-is on the line. (amazon)

I have read the first three books in the Dreamhouse King series and need to catch up by reading Timescape and this latest one!

Impossible by Nancy Werlin

"Lucy has only nine months in which to break an ancient curse."

Lucy Scarborough is seventeen when she discovers that the women of her family have been cursed through the generations, forced to attempt three seemingly impossible tasks or to fall into madness upon their child's birth. How can Lucy succeed when all of her ancestors have tried and failed? But Lucy is the first girl who won't be alone as she tackles the list. She has her fiercely protective foster parents beside her. And she has Zach, whose strength amazes her more each day. Do they have enough love and resolve to overcome an age-old evil?

Inspired by the ballad "Scarborough Fair," this spell-binding novel combines suspense, fantasy, and romance for an intensely page-turning and masterfully original tale. (book jacket)

I Won a Monster Giveaway!

Relz from Relz Reviews had a Monster Giveaway in January - I won this giveaway way back then - but my books just came today from the author! Let me tell you everything that was in this giveaway - From Relz I received an Aussie gift pack which included a 2009 Australian Wildlife Calendar, an Aussie tea towel and a Aussie cap. I received these back in February. (Thanks Relz!)

But let's talk about the books - I received 6 autographed books from Robert Liparulo! This included the 3 Dreamhouse King Books (which I have read - they are great books The House of Dark Shadows, Watcher in the Woods, Gatekeepers - my reviews are here) which he autographed to my son - and 3 adult thrillers - Comes a Horseman, Germ and Deadfall - which he autographed to me! I also received a Dreamhouse King t-shirt and bookmark. Robert and his wife Jodi were both very gracious in communicating with me about the books - and making sure that they were autographed just right. Thank you so much Liparulos - I look forward to reading these!

Waiting on Wednesday: Deadlock

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Deadlock by Robert Liparulo

(A John Hutchinson Novel)

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Available March 31, 2009 (My Birthday!)

Product Description from Amazon:

Hutch's survival skills and ingenuity saved him once in the deep woods. Can they save him this time in the city?

John Hutchinson thinks it's no coincidence that Brendan Page runs this modern Praetorian Guard, and that the billionaire military industrialist must have had something to do with the atrocities his son Declan committed in Canada. The Canadian and U.S. Justice departments disagree, but Hutch has been digging for dirt ever since.

When Hutch discovers the secret of Page's success, Page decides to teach him a lesson. But the operation goes terribly wrong, and Hutch's son is kidnapped. While a lone man stands little chance against the best black op soldiers ever issued M-16s, Hutch manages to survive longer than Page anticipated.

As far as Hutch is concerned, high-tech helmets, machine guns, and hand grenades are nothing compared to a man determined to save his son. It's a lesson he sets out to teach Page-and one that he can only hope works as well in the real world as it does in his heart.

Gatekeepers by Robert Liparulo (Book 3 in Dreamhouse Kings series) - Book Review

Title: Gatekeepers (3rd book in the Dreamhouse Kings series)
Author: Robert Liparulo
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: YA fiction

First Sentence: Xander's words struck David's heart like a musket ball.

I am so very glad that I was able to read the first three books in this series so closely together. My only gripe is that I have to wait until July for Timescape - the 4th book in this series!

In Gatekeepers, we again join Xander, David, Toria and their father, Edward, in the search for their mother, G(ertrude). As they discover more rules about the portals, they also encounter more danger - both in their own world and the world behind the antechambers. Men - warriors - are now coming through the portals and are after the children! Come see how Xander, David and Toria fight off three of these men in the mysterious clearing in the woods - how they are able to fly out of the way of danger!

We also meet Jesse, a very elderly man who has a gift of "feeling" when history has been changed. He also has a link to the mysterious King house, as well as to the King family themselves. He is able to help the children with their knowledge of the portals - but will he have the time to share all of his secrets, or will "time" want him back.

The children may not be able to rescue their mother during this book - but come and find out who they do meet in the other worlds along the way. I guarantee you will not want to put it down!

See my other reviews for the first two books in the series: House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods.

Watcher in the Woods by Robert Liparulo-(Book 2 in Dreamhouse King series)- (Book Review)

Title: Watcher in the Woods (book 2 of Dreamhouse Kings series)

Author: Robert Liparulo

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre: YA

First sentence: At twelve years old, David King was too young to die.

Ok - how can you not want to keep reading with that first line. This was book 2 in the Dreamhouse King series, and it kept me as riveted as book 1 did (House of Dark Shadows - see my review here). I was able to devour this book in one day. In melded seamlessly with book 1, and as I have already started book 3 (look for my review tomorrow!) I can tell you that it was the same with it also.

Book 2 picks up with the King children and their father wondering how to go about searching for their mother - and if they find her - how to get her back. Now their mother has not just been kidnapped - she has been taken through one of the portals of the house into another world - the doorways to these worlds change, seemingly without rhyme or reason and in all worlds but one, danger is around every tree, bush, or building!

Since Edward and Gee (parents) have known each other, they have doodled a cartoon figure they called 'Bob'. Edward comes up with the plan that they would leave pictures of 'Bob' in all the worlds they visit, to let Gee know that they are looking for her. They leave the first picture in the one world that is peaceful - Edward carves it in a tree.

But lets not forget that the King family must also maintain an outward appearance of normalcy - this means going to work/school and making everyone believe their mom just went back to Pasadena to close up the sale of their old house. Add to that - David falling out of a "tree" and breaking his arm, being chased by bullies at school and a mysterious stranger trying to get them evicted from their house!

I was so glad that I had gotten the third book for First Wild Card Tours because that meant I could start it immediately! Can you tell I loved this book!

House of Dark Shadows by Robert Liparulo

Title: House of Dark Shadows
Author: Robert Liparulo
Genre: Supernatural Fiction/Young Adult
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

From the cover: When the Kings move from L.A. to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander isbeyond disappointed. He and his friends loved to create amateur films . . . but the tiny town of Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land.

Bet he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into - as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house.

They soon discover there's something odd about the house. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school.

Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading to far-off places -in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen's dream come true . . . or his worst nightmare.

My review: Robert Liparulo where were you when I was growing up trying to read and comprehend Stephen King as a preteen/teenager! I found myself glad that I had my husband to curl up next to when I shut off the lights!

Upon first viewing their new home, Xander is suspicious - he feels like he is being watched, sounds are coming from the wrong direction, his family seem to "appear" where they shouldn't be. With much trepidation he moves in with his mom and dad, brother David and sister Toria. When he shares his misgivings with his father, his father agrees with him - but tells him that he should just trust him. There is a mystery surrounding what happened to the previous residents years and years before. The real estate agent tells them a story that they think the husband killed his wife and later ran off with the kids and possibly killed them too! Then - G (Xander's mom) finds HUGE footprints in the house.

Xander, David and their dad set out to explore the house from top to bottom - they get the basement done when dad has to go to town to check on his new job. As David and Xander continue to explore, they discover a linen closet that teleports them to their new school! But do they tell mom and dad? No way, and the secrets begin to pile up..

The man/creature with the big feet shows back up in the middle of the night and Xander and David follow him - and discover a secret hallway with many rooms. Each room is equipped with a different items representing a different "theme". Do they really want to go into each room? What will happen if they do? Do they live? Do they die? And when the man comes back to kidnap someone - who will it be? And why is Xander's father not surprised with the series of events?

Find out the answer to all these questions by reading the book! I must warn you that it leaves you with a cliffhanger and hungering for more! I have had the second book (Watcher in the Woods) on request through my library's interlibrary loan since I checked out the first one - and it still isn't in! I definitely give this book 5/5 stars!