[BOOK REVIEW] Vision in White by Nora Roberts

 

Title:  Vision in White

Author:  Nora Roberts

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Year Published: 2009

Number of Pages: 325 pages

Date Read: 12/22/2016

Series: Bride Quartet #1

Publisher: Berkley Books

Source:  Library

Content Rating:  Ages 18+  (Strong Language and Sex Scenes)

Buy on:  Amazon  //  Book Depository 

Now, I will be honest here.  Even though I have been reading romance novels for a long time from various romance novelists, I had never read any of Nora Roberts’ works before and her work is everywhere in the reading sphere!  So, when I stumbled upon this book by Nora Roberts called “Vision in White,” I just knew that this was the book that was going to introduce me to Nora Roberts’ works in a good way!

Mackensie “Mac” Elliot had dreamed for all her life about taking pictures at a wedding and she finally has her dreams come true when she and her best friends, Parker, Emma and Laurel all came together to create Connecticut’s wedding planning business called “Vow.”   With Mac being a well-renowned photographer, she is able to capture the most beautiful moments at the weddings with a click of her camera.  But, unfortunately Mac has no desire to get married despite working at a wedding planning business due to her trust issues that started with her father leaving her and her mother when she was a child and her mother Linda constantly asking Mac for more money, despite the fact that this act is emotionally hurting Mac.  Then one fateful day, Mac runs into a shy yet sexy teacher named Carter Maguire, who she has known since high school and it turns out that Carter has been infatuated with Mac ever since they were in high school.  Now, Mac must conquer her fears of falling in love with Carter if she has to make her own happy ending.

Wow!  I have to say that as the first book I had read from Nora Roberts, it was simply amazing and heartwarming!  I loved the fact that Nora Roberts made friendship and the importance of true love a central theme in this book as I enjoyed seeing how Mac starts developing as a character as she slowly learns to start trusting people despite her tragic past with her parents and the fact that her mother Linda keeps trying to take money from her.  I also enjoyed the scenes where Mac confides in her friends Parker, Emma and Laurel about her romantic woes and her issues with her mother as it shows that Mac’s circle of friends are extremely supportive of Mac through her life and it shows that they are truly good friends towards Mac and it makes me want to have such friends in real life!  Nora Roberts also did a great job at developing the relationships between Mac, her friends and Carter as not only does Mac have great friends who support her through her issues, but she also has a love interest in Carter who showed her what it is like to trust and love someone again.  I loved almost all of the characters in this novel (well, except for the antagonists, of course) as they all felt so genuine and are supportive of each other through tough times.  I especially loved the characters of Mac and Carter themselves as they were the stars of the show with their unique romance and support of each other.  I loved the fact that Mac is a successful photographer as it shows that she is a strong and determined young woman who is trying to get her personal life together and it was great seeing her character develop throughout the story as she is trying to learn how to trust and love someone again.  Carter was absolutely fantastic as he is truly supportive of Mac and knows how to comfort Mac when she really needs it and who says that high school teachers cannot be HOT and SEXY!?

For readers who do not like strong language and sex scenes, this book does contain some strong language such as the usage of the “s” word and some sex scenes, so some readers might want to skim over these scenes if they find them to be a bit too much.

Overall, “Vision in White” is a truly fantastic book about the importance of true friendship and love and I am sure that anyone who loves a good winter romance will enjoy this book!

 * 2009 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Romance

  

      

[BOOK REVIEW] Saga Volume 6 by Brian K. Vaughan

Title:  Saga Volume 6

Author:  Brian K. Vaughan

Artist:  Fiona Staples

Genre:  Adventure / Family / Fantasy / Science Fiction

Year Published:  2016

Year Read: 11/9/2016

Series:  Saga #6

Publisher:  Image Comics

Source:  Library

Content Rating:  Ages 17+ (Gory Violence, Strong Language and Nudity)

Introduction:

 

THIS SERIES JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!

I seriously cannot get enough of this series!  Every time I pick up a graphic novel from Brian K. Vaughan’s groundbreaking comic book series “Saga,” I am just filled to the brim with anticipation in seeing what kind of adventures will Alana, Marko and Hazel get into and “Saga Volume Six” does not disappoint me in bringing in the excitement and romance!

What is this story about?

After Hazel gets kidnapped in the last volume, Alana and Marko had reignited their love for each other and decided to travel across the galaxy to find their beloved daughter.  Meanwhile after a time skip, Hazel attends Kindergarten on the planet Landfall and it was soon discovered that Hazel’s identity (being the child of two clashing races) was too dangerous to reveal to anyone, although Hazel eventually revealed her secret identity to her teacher. Once Hazel’s teacher finds out the truth about Hazel, she decides to try and get Hazel and her grandmother out of Landfall!

What I loved about this story:

Brian K. Vaughan’s writing: Wow…just wow…This volume was just as BEAUTIFUL, NAUGHTY, and EXCITING as the previous volumes and I just loved seeing the developments that are happening to Alana, Marko and Hazel!  I loved the way that Brian K. Vaughan developed each character as it was great seeing the characters mature throughout the story due to the time skip and I really loved the fact that this volume focuses more on Hazel and how she contributes to the main story overall as she tries to understand about her mixed heritage and why it is dangerous to reveal her true nature to the world.  I was also surprised with how Brian K. Vaughan portrayed the Will’s descent into madness after he lost both his girlfriend and his sister, the Brand, and it served as an interesting side story about having to deal with the loss of a loved one over time.  It was also interesting seeing some new characters pop up in this volume such as the two homosexual male reporters who are in a relationship with each other and are also trying to discover the truths about Alana and Marko and about their forbidden love to each other.  It gives the story a much wider scope of the “Saga” universe as we get to see the events of the main plot from the perspective of other characters that are not the main characters.

Fiona Staples’ artwork:  Fiona Staples’ artwork is as usual gorgeous and creative to look at as the characters are beautifully drawn and I loved seeing the exotic worlds that the cast of “Saga” live in, such as an underwater airport on one page. I also enjoyed seeing the images of the Will getting overweight since it surprised me a bit, but it also showed how he was still suffering over the loss of his loved ones over the years.

What made me feel uncomfortable about this story:

As per tradition with the “Saga” series, there is strong language, bloody violence and graphic imagery that might not go over too well with some readers. If you do not like reading any graphic novels that have lots of nudity, gore and strong language, then you might want to skip this series. 

Final Thoughts:

Overall, “Saga: Volume Six” is another awesome installment in Brian K. Vaughan’s “Saga” series that is full of EXCITEMENT, ROMANCE, SASS and CREATIVITY that any graphic novel fan will enjoy for years to come!

[BOOK REVIEW] Garfield Cleans His Plate by Jim Davis

Title:  Garfield Cleans His Plate



Author:  Jim Davis

Genre:  Humor / Animals / Relationships

Year Published:  2015

Year Read: 10/29/2016

Series:  Garfield #60

Publisher: Ballantine Books Trade Paperbacks



Source:  Library



Content Rating:  Ages 7+ (Some Rude Behavior)

 

Introduction:

 

Uh oh!  I had picked up another “Garfield” graphic novel called “Garfield Cleans His Plate.”  I mean, I CANNOT HELP IT!  I just keep picking up a “Garfield” comic because I love Jim Davis’ “Garfield” series so much and this volume is just as good as the previous “Garfield” comics that I had read!

What is this story about?

This volume continues the adventures of Garfield, Jon, Odie and Liz and how they spend the Christmas holidays together and how Liz is still trying to get used to Jon’s bizarre way of living like constantly wearing big polka dotted bow ties and dancing in the middle of his lawn while dressed as a daisy in the middle of spring!  Meanwhile, Garfield continues being his snarky self by commenting on various situations that happen to Jon, Odie and Liz in an extremely humorous way!

What I loved about this story:

Jim Davis’ writing: Jim Davis’ writing continues to be witty and hilarious as we see more adventures of Garfield, Jon, Odie and Liz and Garfield continues making sarcastic snide remarks towards the silliness going on with Jon and Odie.  I really loved the way that Jim Davis wrote Jon and Liz’s relationship as we see their relationship progressing at this point as Liz starts to get used to Jon’s eccentric nature and still stands by him no matter how embarrassing his antics can get.  I also love the fact that Garfield still remains sarcastic throughout the series as the characters still have the same personalities despite all the changes happening in the series, with the biggest change being Jon finally getting a girlfriend in Liz. It helps keeps the series consistent with its humor and I can get on board with the changes happening in this series without worrying about my favorite characters becoming different characters towards the end.  I also like the fact that Garfield is supportive of Jon and Liz’s relationship as it shows that he is experiencing a bit of a character development as he went from making Jon’s life miserable (although he still does that from time to time) to actually accepting Jon’s happiness in his relationship with Liz.

Jim Davis’ artwork:  Jim Davis’ artwork is as usual goofy and hilarious to look at as all the characters have exaggerated features such as large rounded eyes and in the case of Garfield, a round pudgy stomach that shows off his massive appetite!  I also loved the way that Jim Davis drew Liz’s eyes as they are large and round like most of the other characters, but the fact that they are almost always half way closed shows how sane she is compared to the other characters.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, “Garfield Cleans His Plate” is another fantastic installment in Jim Davis’ legendary “Garfield” series and I am sure that I will be checking out other “Garfield” works in the near future!

  

[BOOK REVIEW] Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett by Steven Kellogg

Title:  Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett

Author:  Steven Kellogg

Genre:  Humor / Tall Tale / Feminism / Adventure

Year Published: 1995

Year Read:  2008

Publisher: Mulberry Paperback Book

Series: A Tall Tale

Source:  Library

Content Rating:  Ages 5+  (Nothing Objectionable)

Buy on:  Amazon  //  Book Depository 

Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett” (What a name!), is a great book from the excellent retelling of Steven Kellogg. Steven Kellogg’s version of America’s best heroine is extremely funny and energetic and will surely grab the attention of both children and adults.

The book is basically about the life and adventures of Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind as it details from her birth as being the first and only girl in her family of nine sons to being one of the best female athletes in the state.  Her astonishing talents ranged from causing a grizzly bear to lose its fur when she gave it a bright grin that blinded the bear to eventually meeting up with her future husband Davy Crockett!

Steven Kellogg did an excellent job at retelling and illustrating the exciting adventures of Sally Ann. Sally Ann is a true model for strong women as she battles various obstacles with ease while at the same time trying to be the loving wife and mother to Davy Crockett and her baby son, Hardstone. Sally Ann is also an extremely confident woman as she continues to do the things that she loves to do despite what other people say and that shows that anyone can do anything if they put their heart into it. Steven Kellogg’s illustrations are incredible and funny as he illustrates Sally Ann’s adventures from the wilderness to being a housewife. The images that really show out in the story are the image of Sally Ann flinging the alligators into the blue sky while she is conjuring up a tornado and the image of a grown Sally Ann standing alone in a bear skin while snowflakes are falling around her during the winter.

“Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett” (That name again!) is a spectacular tale about how a strong heroine made a difference in her world by showing everyone that anyone could do the impossible if they believe in themselves. Steven Kellogg’s beautiful and humorous retelling of this strong woman is an instant treat for children ages five and older and will also be intriguing for the adults who enjoy tall tale stories.