15th edition Book Review Blog Carnival

Welcome to the MYSTERIES IN PARADISE edition of the Book Review Blog Carnival.

We have a variety of reviews for you to read, 34 in all. Many thanks to all who have contributed to this, the 15th edition of the Carnival.

FICTION

Children's Books

• NathanKP reviews “The Last Holiday Concert,” by Andrew Clements at Inkweaver Review.
  Nathan says "This is a wonderful, meaningful book by Andrew Clements, one of the market's best writers for school age children."
  

Short Stories

• Diana reviews Pieces- A Collection at Reading is Sexy.
  Diana says "a collection of short fiction edited by Stephen Chbosky."
  

Romance

• Keira reviews Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark by Donna Lea Simpson at
  Love Romance Passion.
  Keira says "if you like mystery, intrigue, werewolves, and Gothic you will love this book! "
  


• Grant McCreary reviews A Guide to the Birds of East Africa at The Birder's Library.
  Grant says "First, and most importantly, despite the title of this book, it is not a field guide. Rather, it is a novel, and a charming one at that. But it does deal with birds and East Africa!" [Kerrie's note: I had trouble in putting this novel in a category. I'm not sure that it is a romance]
  

Young Adult

• Bart reviews Apocalypse by Tim Bowler at Bart's Bookshelf.
  Bart says "It is everything a good young adult book should be, it is both intelligent and complex, and treats the reader as if they are too."
  


• Lindsey presents Why I love the Twilight Series at A Kindred Spirit's Thoughts.
  Lindsey explores the novels of Stephanie Meyer and says "I've always loved fantasy, made-up worlds, and novels based on fairy tales and myth, so the concept of vampires living among us intrigued me."
  

Urban Fantasy

• Joana presents Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost posted at The Symposium.
  Joana says "After finishing Frost’s Halfway to the Grave, my only regret is that I did not get a chance to read it sooner."
  


• Kristen reviews Moon Called at The Cackling Crow.
  Kristen says "This first book in the series deals with Mercy’s background living with the werewolves and what happens when she finds a stray new werewolf on her doorstep."
  


• Nymeth presents Skellig by David Almond posted at things mean a lot.
  Nymeth says "Skellig is such a touching book. Read it."
  

Crime Fiction

• Kerrie reviews THREE BAGS FULL, Leonie Swann at MYSTERIES in PARADISE.
  Kerrie says "The premise of THREE BAGS FULL is simple. Glenkill shepherd George Glenn is found dead in the paddock, murdered, a heavy spade stuck through his middle. So we have a murder mystery. But what isn't so simple is that the tale of the investigation is told from the point of view of his flock.
  


• Clark Bjorke reviews Charm City at I'll Never Forget the Day I Read a Book!.
  Clark says "Laura Lippmann's second Tess Monaghan novel already has, fully formed, many of the characters that readers follow throughout the series, including Esskay, the hungry greyhound.."
  


• Ms. SP reviews Watchmen by Alan Moore at Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All.
  Ms. SP says "At its basics, Watchmen is a murder mystery. A character is dead. Other characters want to find out who did it and why."
  


• Kerrie reviews PANDORA'S DAUGHTER, Iris Johansen at MYSTERIES in PARADISE.
  Kerrie says "I read this as an "audio" book. Crime fiction with a touch of the paranormal."
  


• Deanna reviews The Homicidal Virgin at Kitsch Slapped.
  Deanna says "The Homicidal Virgin is, like all the Mike Shayne works, one of those classic gumshoe detective stories."
  


• Kerrie reviews PLAY DEAD, Richard Montanari at MYSTERIES in PARADISE.
  Kerrie says "A real page turner. The best crime fiction I've read this year."
  


• Kerrie reviews MURDER ON A MIDSUMMER NIGHT, Kerry Greenwood at MYSTERIES in PARADISE.
  Kerrie says "Australian crime fiction cozy set in Melbourne in 1929."
  

NON-FICTION

For Children

• Rani presents Reboot Your Brain posted at Christ's Bridge, a Christan Devotional book for 8-12 year old Boys.
  
  
• Roberta Gibson presents Wrapped in Foil · Picture Book Review: Fold Me a Poem posted at Wrapped in Foil.
  Roberta says "one of those picture books that you love to review because it is so easy. Dig through your bag of superlatives, sprinkle a few in each sentence and you are done. It is simply an outstanding book."

General

• GrrlScientist reviews Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America -- and Found Unexpected Peace at Living the Scientific Life.
  GrrlScientist says "by William Lobdell, this is an honest and thoughtful memoir of one journalist's personal journey from a troubled life to that of a devout evangelical, to an aspiring Catholic, and finally, to a 'reluctant atheist'."
  


• Peter N. Jones reviews Disappearing Peoples: Indigenous Groups and Ethnic Minorities in South and Central Asia at Indigenous Peoples Issues and Resources.
  Peter says "Ideal for an undergraduate class or graduate seminar, this book provides the perfect text for leading students through several varying case studies of contemporary impacts to indigenous peoples."
  


• Peter N. Jones reviews Red Hot Lies: How Global Warming Alarmists Use Threats, Fraud, and Deception to Keep You Misinformed at Great New Books that Are a Must Read.
  Peter says "this is a tremendous addition to the list of books to study and research if one is to learn about the other side of global warming."
  


• Peter N. Jones reviews Feast of Souls: Indians and Spaniards in the Seventeenth Century Missions of Florida and New Mexico at Indigenous Peoples Issues and Resources.
  Peter says "this book is suited for undergraduate students in survey courses, but has little to offer specialists or informed general readers. "
  


• Mike Bergin reviews Lucky by Monica Engebretson at 10,000 Birds.
  Mike says "A favorable review by Charlie Moores of the parrot book "Lucky", by Monica Engebretson."
  


• Ty Skinner reviews First Sunday in April: The Masters at Jeff Skinner.
  Ty says This book is a collection of articles written about The Masters Golf Tournament."
  

Finances

• Nick Adama presents Meltdown by Thomas Woods at ForeclosureFish Blog.
  Nick says "A book review of Thomas Woods' new book on the free market and the collapse of the economy."
  


• Jim reviews Your Credit Score by Liz Pulliam Weston at Bargaineering.
  Jim says "Liz Pulliam Weston [is] so good at taking complex personal finance topics and translating it into terms that ordinary people like us can understand."
  


• The Smarter Wallet reviews Die Broke at The Smarter Wallet.
  The Smarter Wallet says "I have met my share of parents who lived for their children without ever considering their own needs at retirement.... But this is the wrong philosophy! Let the kids struggle and be successful on their own."
  


• Nate Desmond reviews Cracking the CLEP at Debt-free Scholar.
  Nate says "a useful book for any college student who plans on taking any CLEP test, but it is especially useful for scholars preparing for one of the five general CLEP tests."
  


• Mr. CC reviews The Credit Book By Sam Sky at Ask Mr Credit Card's Blog.
  Mr CC says "Sam begins with a basic bit of education, and then moves right on into more advanced topics."
  


• Dan reviews
  Extreme Book Review: The Post-American World at Darwin's Finance, saying "An extreme book review of the sobering Post-American World".
  


• Jim reviews Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success by Dan Schawbel
  at Bargaineering.
  Jim says "One of the most important lessons I learned in becoming a full-time blogger was the importance of building a brand."
  

Lifestyle

• Barry Wright III reviews The End of Fashion - Book at 3stylelife.
  Barry says "It’s not the end of fashion, but it’s the end of an era of fashion. Big changes are ahead. Read the book and see what changes you could be making."
  


• Brad reviews Meet Ken Wilber: A Brief History of Everything at Tri-Freedom.
  Brad says "This book blew my mind then brought the pieces back together.
  


• Peter N. Jones presents How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People at Great New Books that Are a Must Read.
  Peter says "Mr. Alford’s treatise on elder wisdom made me laugh, but it also made me want to go out and tell all the adult children I know to talk to their parents before it’s too late."
  


• Nate Desmond reviews 411 SAT Prep Series at Debt-free Scholar.
  Nate says "The 411 SAT Prep Series is almost entirely sample test questions."
  


• Barry Wright III reviews The War of Art: A Book Review in Quotes at 3stylelife.
  Barry says "a necessary book for anyone working in a creative field."
  


• Effortless Abundance reviews The Soul Truth at Effortless Wealth and Abundance, saying "a heartfelt, fascinating and engaging book."

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