Book Review: Evil Spy School by Stuart Gibbs (Spy School #3)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Engaging story and characters wrapped in humor

Cons: Any cons are redacted

The Bottom Line:

Ben undercover

Must dig to find the secrets

Thrilling us again

Ben Finally Accepts His Place in SPYDER

I have yet to be disappointed with any of Stuart Gibbs’s books, and considering how many he’s written at this point, that’s saying something.  He’s returning to the world of spies in training with Evil Spy School, which takes Ben Ripley, his thirteen-year-old spy in training to the last place we ever expected him to go.

It’s time for a new school year, and Ben is enrolling in the Wiseman Preparatory Academy.  No, this isn’t the new cover name for the spy school he attended last semester.  This is the name of evil organization SPYDER’s school to train future agents to carry out their evil purposes.  Ben has finally accepted SPYDER’s offer to join the dark side, but only after he was kicked out of the CIA’s spy school for something that was only partially his fault.

Really, Ben thinks he is on an undercover assignment.  At least, he hopes he’s on an undercover assignment.  With no way to contact anyone outside of his new school, he’s only guessing at what he’s supposed to be doing.  Can Ben learn what SPYDER’s latest plans are?  If so, can he get the word to anyone in time to foil them?

This book takes Ben away from the familiar faces, at least for a large portion of the action.  However, the new characters we meet are pretty interesting, and this more than makes up for any loss.  In fact, these new characters are so interesting I hope we get to meet up with them in future installments in the series.  Meanwhile, Ben continues to be a fun main character, and we might have seen some growth in Erica, the super spy that Ben has a crush on.

The story moves forward at a steady pace, providing some clues and questions.  With about a third of the book left, things really explode and it becomes a fast paced sprint to the end.  Along the way, everything that has happened before comes back into play.

Those familiar with the series will be expecting a liberal dose of humor, and they won’t be disappointed.  I smiled and laughed at some of the situations and banter along the way.  In fact, I had to share a couple bits with a friend in the break room at work, and she enjoyed it as well.  I know that the target audience will definitely enjoy the laughs along the way.

Great plot, fun characters, and humor.  This book really does have it all.  Don’t hesitate to enroll in Evil Spy School today.  You’ll be thrilled you did.

And you'll want to read the rest of the Spy School series in order.

This is part of this week's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.  Be sure to check out the other stories.

May 9th's Weekly TV Thoughts

Next week is going to be killer.  I'm already dreading all the cliffhangers!  And it looks like all my shows are getting renewed for next season as well.  Since there are at least two shows I need to start watching next season, I'm not sure how that is going to work.  I don't have time for any more TV shows!

Once Upon a Time – They wrapped up a lot I wasn’t expecting, but that leaves us wide open for some fun next week.  I think I’m really going to enjoy the twist on the characters we will get thanks to Gold’s rewrite.  You can read my full recap here.

Dancing with the Stars – Nastia’s trio dance was a bit unfair to everyone else since she has been training with Sasha all along and even competed with him two weeks.  Having said that, I agree with the judges that it was wonderful.  I really do agree with the judges for the most part on the dancing and scores, in fact.  I wasn’t that surprised with who got eliminated.  Yes, they are both getting better, but they are also the weakest of the group that danced on Monday.

Castle – What was up with that cameo!  This show is above that.  The mystery was fine, but that cameo really, really bugged me.  Read more of my rantwith my full recap.

The Flash – So I get that Grodd is a big part of Flash’s story and history, but I was less than impressed.  In fact, it felt like it was forced into the storyline of the season at this point.  I’ll be interested to see if they work him in better in the future or what.

Agents of SHIELD – Well, I knew that meeting would end badly.  It just didn’t end badly for the person I thought it would.  Next week should prove interesting, that for sure.

Arrow – I’ll admit, I think I’m getting a little tired of this storyline and the darkness.  However, Oliver working from the inside to take down the league is interesting.  I figured it had to be something like that.  The cliffhanger at the end sure got me.  What in the world is Oliver up to?

Survivor – Really?  You know someone has a hidden immunity idol, and you still all vote for him?  I’m sorry, but that’s the stupidest move of all time.  Yes, even more stupid than being voted out with two idols in your pocket and giving up immunity and then being voted out COMBINED!!  Also, Rodney, quit whining.  It’s unattractive in an adult.

Young and Hungry – How can something that seems like such a good idea go so horribly wrong?  And what are the odds?  Only on TV, right?

Big Bang Theory – I sometimes feel that writers leave things open when they aren’t sure what to do with the story next and want a few months to decide.  That’s definitely the case with Penny and Leonard here.  I was certainly surprised that Sheldon had a ring for Amy.  I’ll be interested to see that develop next season.

The Odd Couple – Two episodes and some good laughs.  I do like Merv, but I also like that actor, so it’s nice to find him on a new show.  I hope he sticks around long term (assuming the show sticks around long term).  They seem to be developing an ensemble comedy.  It makes me curious what the original show was like.

The Amazing Race – So now they give us the “still racing” bit and the mid-leg elimination again.  It will be interesting if someone other than the last place teams gets eliminated this time around since, so far this season, the non-elimination legs haven’t mattered in the end.  It looked to me like the waves at the Road Block got worse as the day went on.  Another reason to get there early, I guess.

Book Review: One Foot in the Grape by Carlene O'Neil (Cypress Cover Mysteries #1)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Strong characters in a twisty plot

Cons: Timeline issues early on, but don’t affect story

The Bottom Line:

Some sabotaged wine

Are the prelude to murder

Page turning debut

A Grape Debut

It’s confession time.  Even though I grew up in the heart of the Sonoma/Napa wine country, I do not like wine.  Go figure, right?  But when I met author Charlene O’Neal at Bouchercon last November, I knew I had to give her new series a try.  Having just finished One Foot in the Grape, I can say that you are in for a grape ride when you pick it up.

Penny Lively has returned to the coastal town of Cyprus Cove, California, to run the winery she has inherited from the great-aunt who raised her.  She is handling the business side of things while her niece, Hayley, and her winery manager, Connor, are handling growing the grapes and the wines themselves.

Trouble arrives in the form of Antonia Martinelli, a distant relative who runs the largest winery in the area.  Someone has been sabotaging the wines that Martinelli Winery produces, however, and Antonia is afraid if the culprit isn’t caught the damage will ruin the family name.  Despite Antonia’s difficult and prickly reputation, Penny agrees to investigate only to find a dead body before she can gather any clues.  Is the murder connected to the sabotage?  Can Penny find the killer without any harm coming to her?

Let’s just start by getting my complaint out of the way, okay?  The days of the week and the timeline seemed to be all over the place in the first few chapters.  It felt like the days of the early events in the story changed, and not everything was blended into the revision correctly.  However, as the book progressed, that issue went away, and it never had any impact on the story.

And the story here is great.  There are many viable suspects with great motives, and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end, yet everything made sense.  A few scenes had me turning pages as fast as I could to find out how Penny would escape the danger she was facing.

I always like it when the suspects are strong because it makes the conflict feel real and it keeps me confused.  The suspects here were awesome.  I could feel the tension in a few of the early scenes, and once the murder happens, that tension continued to build.  The rest of the characters were fine as well, and I’m looking forward to seeing them developed more in future books.

In fact, I’m looking forward to seeing more of Penny’s family tree explained in future books as well.  I’m a bit curious about family relationships based on what little we do learn here.  However, none of that background is needed to enjoy this book, and I actually appreciate the fact that the author didn’t slow down the story for a back story data dump.  I’m sure we will get the answers in future books.

And I will be back for future books.  Overall, One Foot in the Grape is a strong debut that promises many more fun mysteries to come.

NOTE: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

GIVEAWAY!!

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of this book to give away.  Because it is a physical book, the contest is limited to residence of the US.

Leave me a comment with your e-mail address so I can get in touch with you.  I will pick the winner next Friday, May 15th, so please leave your comment before 12:01AM on 5/15.

May 8th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

Friday has rolled around again, so it's time for Book Beginnings and Friday 56.

This week, I'm going with Middle School novel Evil Spy School by Stuart Gibbs.

This is the third in a very fun series, and the Spy School series will be debuting on the New York Times best seller list on Sunday!  I've been reading Stuart Gibbs since his very first book came out, so I am thrilled for him.  They really are fun for all ages.  I've enjoyed them.

I mean, really, how can you pass up quotes like these.  Here's the opening.

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, seven enemy agents in hot pursuit.

I'm going to cheat a little on the Friday 56 and use this quote from page 53 just because I loved it so much.

"So...it's kind of like evil spy school," I said.
Joshua frowned.  "I suppose.  Although we prefer to call it the Wiseman Preparatory Academy."
"Why?"
"Because 'Evil Spy School' sounds a little suspicious, don't you think?"

Seriously, if you are looking to get books for any middle graders in your life for the summer, check out Stuart's books.  I'll be reviewing this one on Sunday.

And if you are looking for the cozies I often feature, be sure to check out the two reviews with giveaways I have going on right now.  There's Musseled Out (which I featured for last week's Book Beginning and Friday 56) and One Foot in the Grape.

Music Review: Live Forever by Matthew West

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fun music and encouraging lyrics

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

True stories in song

Made to encourage, uplift

Another great disc

More Hope from the Lives of Others

I wonder if Matthew West quite realized what a concept he had when he set out to create a release of songs inspired by the lives of his fans.  It proved to be such a huge hit that Live Forever is the third release he’s done this way.  And it’s just as great as the first two were.

The thing that makes these projects work is that Matthew is able to take these stories and make the themes of God’s redemption universal.  In fact, the stories aren’t included in the booklet, although you can go to his website to read them.  However, outside of a couple specific songs, I really don’t get much of the specifics behind the songs.  And even when we have specific details, the lesson is still universal.

And those messages?  They are outstanding.  The title track encourages us to live for eternity and not the pleasures of this world.  Along a similar line, “World Changers” celebrates those who do work hard to help others whether they are recognized for it or not.

A huge theme one again is God’s grace in the face of our sins.  It pops up time and time again on such songs as “Day One,” “The List,” and “Grace Wins.”  Yet each of them is different in their approach.  “Day One” is about moving forward and not letting the mistakes of the past tie you down today.  “The List” reminds us that “Love keeps no record of wrong,” so we shouldn’t either.  And “Grace Wins” is written from the perspective of someone who has hit rock bottom only to have God’s grace restore them.

But my favorite song with this theme is “Mended.”  This one is written from God’s point of view and reminds us just how powerful His love and grace can be.  “When you see broken beyond repair/I see healing beyond belief/When you see too far gone/I see one step away from home.”  The Bible and the world are filled with people God redeemed from situations everyone else said were impossible, and it’s always great to be reminded of that.

In a different vein, there’s “Tryin’” which tells the story of someone who is no longer attempting to conform to the world’s standards for anything but instead accepting who God made them to be.

The song that is most obviously tied to a story is “Anything is Possible” which tells the story of a woman who has risen from prison to a steady job, a house, and a daughter she loves.  Matthew actually speaks the verses, which makes it a bit different and put me off at first, but I’ve found it has really grown on me.

And I’ve got to touch on the final two songs.  “Oh, Me of Little Faith” is a wonderful confession of weakness be it doubt, hopelessness, worry, or any other form of weakness.  And yet, God is there no matter what we are going through.  As the chorus says, “Lord, I believe, but/Help my unbelief ‘cause/Trust and fear are fighting.”  That’s me all too often.

Finally, there’s the anthem “Heaven is the Hope,” which circles back around to the first song and reminds us that this world is not all there is.  Instead, we have God’s promise of life as it was meant to be lived in his presence in Heaven forever. 

And yes, Matthew keeps his tradition of a hidden track by his daughters at the end.  They are definitely growing up.

Musically, this is a typical soft rock release.  Most of the songs are upbeat with a few mid-tempo tracks in there.  The slowest track is the guitar based ballad “Oh, Me of Little Faith,” which is still an up-tempo ballad.  There’s plenty of guitar, piano, and drums on all the tracks.  And yet, the more I’ve listened to the disc, the more distinct the songs have become for me.  They don’t run together, and the upbeat nature of the music really drives home the hope of the lyrics.

I’m not sure if Matthew is going to keep going with this route or try something new with his next release, but I’ll be along either way.  His music is fun and encouraging.  I definitely think it will Live Forever.

CD Length: 44:46

Tracks:

1. Live Forever

2. Day One

3. The List

4. World Changers

5. Grace Wins

6. Tryin’

7. Mended

8. Anything is Possible

9. Born for This

10. Oh, Me of Little Faith

11. Heaven is the Hope

TV Show Review: White Collar - Season 6

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Writing, characters, story, acting

Cons: Only Neal (you know, the conman)

The Bottom Line:

Back for one last con

Wraps things up for characters

Will leave fans happy

“Spend Your Time Well, Neal.  Before You Know It, It Will be Gone.”

At the end of the fifth season of White Collar, the show’s creator and the USA Network decided to bring the show back for a final season of just six episodes.  While it was time for the show to end, I was sorry since I have loved it from day one.  Fortunately, with everyone agreeing this was the final season, they were able to go out with the incredibly fun season six.

Plus they were able to resolve that cliffhanger.  After all, we had to know just who it was who kidnapped former con man turned FBI asset Neal Cafferty (Matt Bomer).  Meanwhile, his FBI handler Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) is doing everything he can to find Neal with the help of Neal’s non-fed trusting friend Mozzie (Willie Garson).  When they do find him, Neal unfolds a very risky plan to take down the most notorious criminal organization – in exchange for his freedom.  Will Neal finally earn his freedom?  Or will the plan backfire?

If you aren’t familiar with the show, you really don’t want to jump in here.  There are connections, comments, and relationships that won’t mean much to you.  But really, would you want to jump in to the end of any story?  I wouldn’t.

However, fans of the show will love the way they tie up six years of such a great show.  The ending wasn’t the one I had hoped for, but it works perfectly for the characters, so I really don’t mind.  Along the way, we get twists, turns, and suspense that will keep you glued to the TV for every second.  In other words, it’s just like always.

What isn’t like always is the lack of standalone episodes.  With only six episodes to wrap things up, five of them tie directly into this final story arc.  The only exception focuses on fan favorite Mozzie, and it is the most fun episode of the season.  The rest have their fun moments but are mostly compelling and suspenseful.

While Jones (Sharif Atkins) and Diana (Marsha Thomason) pretty much are involved in the main story and nothing else, Peter’s wife Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen) does get her own sub-plot, one that brings her back to New York City.  Again, it will please fans, but that’s all I’m saying.

The acting and writing on this show have always been spectacular, and this final season doesn’t drop the ball at all.  It’s smart, fast moving, and laced with humor at all the right places brought to life by a talented and amazing cast.  You won’t be disappointed in the slightest.

The six episodes from season six are included in this two disc set.  They originally aired in widescreen and full surround, and that’s how they are presented here.  The bonus features include a retrospective from the cast and crew, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and two audio commentaries on the series finale, both featuring creator Jeff Eastin who is joined on one by stars Tim DeKay and Willie Garson and the other by Matt Bomer.

It’s always sad to see a favorite show end, but that’s why TV on DVD sets were invented.  I look forward to spending time reliving Neal and Peter’s cases again, and White Collar season six is the perfect end to their story.

Season 6 Episodes:

1. Borrowed Time

2. Return to Sender

3. Uncontrolled Variables

4. All’s Fair

5. Whack-A-Mole

6. Au Revoir

TV Recap: Castle 7-22 - Dead from New York

Well, that was something I never have seen before in an episode of Castle – filler.  Can we say ratings grab attempt cameo?  I get that shows don’t always have a choice in this, but I was sorry to see Carly Rae Jepsen show up in such an obvious stunt.  She contributed nothing to the case at all, and Castle and Beckett dancing off to the side was rather pointless as well.

Okay.  Deep breath.  I’ve got that out of my system now.  Let’s get back to solving a murder because I did enjoy this episode.

The victim this week is the creator of a comedy sketch show that is obviously a spoof of Saturday Night Live.  He was not necessarily an easy man to work for, and so the list of suspects is rather long.  At the top of the list is the current season’s star who has been acting crazier and crazier, has threatened the victim, and is about to be fired.  However, when he learns he is a suspect for a real murder, he stops acting (because that’s all the crazy was) and admits he wanted out of his contract.  He alibis out, but not before saying he heard the victim talking about a meeting he had at midnight, roughly the time that the murder happened.

Book Review: Musseled Out by Barbara Ross (Maine Clambake Mysteries #3)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fast paced, twisty story and strong characters

Cons: None to be found here

The Bottom Line:

Competition dies

Bringing some secrets to light

In fabulous book

Another Great Mysterious Trip to Maine

I had so much fun with the first two books in the Maine Clambake series, I couldn’t wait to come back and visit the Snowden clan again in book three.  Having just finished Musseled Out, I can assure you this is a return visit you don’t want to miss.

It’s the first week of October, and things are winding down for the season.  That means Julia Snowden has to face the decision she’s been putting off all summer, will she return to her job in venture capital in New York City or stay to help run the family clambake for future summers.  And if she is going to stay, what will she do over the upcoming off season?

Complicating the decision is the fact that the Snowden Family Clambake is potentially facing stiff competition next year as David Thwing is looking to extend his chain of restaurants into the area with a twist, he’s going to open a competing clambake instead.  Julia has a run in with the man down on the dock, and he is extremely unpleasant to her.  A few hours later, Julia is present when David is discovered dead on the boat of a missing lobsterman.  The police seem interested in Julia’s brother-in-law as a suspect since he’d had many public fights with the victim.  Unfortunately, Sonny is clearly hiding something.  What is his secret?  Who really killed David?

Once again, this book starts strong and the pace never slacks.  I was turning pages as quickly as I could to find out what clue Julia would uncover next and what it would mean.  With several characters hiding secrets, there was always some angle for Julia to be investigating.  As things are finally resolved at the end, I was surprised at the clues I had missed along the way.  Yes, that means the solution at the end is completely logical, and yet I still didn’t suspect until Julia figured it out.

The climactic scene is different from many in the cozies I read, and I loved it as a result.  I should have stopped reading when I reached it since my lunch hour was over, but I just couldn’t put the book down until I learned how things would be resolved.

The characters have always been strong in this series, and this book is no exception.  There’s actually a large cast of regulars, and all of them grow over the course of the story.  The new characters we meet here are equally developed.  Because the characters are so great, we feel the hits of the twists in the plot just as much as Julia does.

And what would a culinary cozy be without a recipe or two in the back.  This book actually includes eight mouthwatering recipes…if you like sea food, that is.  I actually am not a fan, so those six don’t tempt me.  However, the two non-sea food recipes, a pumpkin whoopie cookie and an apple pie, both sound great.

Musseled Out is a wonderful addition to an addicting series that left me wanting more.  If you haven’t met Julia yet, book your first clambake today.  As for me, I’ll be back as soon as the next one comes out.

Looking for more?  Here are the Maine Clambake Mysteries in order.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway!

I'm going to give away one copy of this book to a lucky person who leaves me a comment.  For the USA, it will be your choice of an ebook or a paperback.  For international winners, it would be an ebook only.

Please leave me a comment including your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.  I will pick a winner next Tuesday, May 12th, so please leave your comment before 12:01 AM on 5/12 to be in the drawing.

Ornament Review: Lego Boba Fett - 2014 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Great representation of the popular character

Cons: A little large, personally, I would have preferred some other characters instead

The Bottom Line:

Hunt down transgressors

With Lego bounty hunter

Popular figure

Bounty Hunter Looking for Ornaments on Your Tree

Certain characters gain cult followings.  I get that.  At times, I’m part of the crowd.  Others?  I’m scratching my head trying to figure out the attraction.  While that’s the case with why Boba Fett is such a popular character, I still can appreciate the Lego Boba Fett ornament.

For those like me who are even scratching their heads at the character name, Boba Fett is the bounty hunter who captured Han Solo in the original trilogy.  Yes, he’s a minor character who winds up having a major impact on the story at just the wrong time.  But how popular is he?  Well, popular enough to have several Lego items including this ornament from Hallmark.

The ornament itself is mostly light blues, grays and greens.  Boba Fett is wearing a helmet and jet pack, and he’s painted a light blue and gray for his uniform.  He does have a gun in his right hand that hangs down and almost touches the ground just next to the Lego block he’s standing on.  His cape is flowing out behind him and his left arm is reaching out in front of him.

I think my lack of enthusiasm for this ornament is due to my lack of enthusiasm for the character.  I certainly can’t find faults with the ornament.  It looks like the character, or at least the Lego version of the character, so his many fans will love it.  Overall, I do think the ornament is a bit on the large size, but I’ve left that way about all the ornaments in this unofficial series.

Because of that block base I mentioned earlier, you can set this ornament out all year long and enjoy.  This may be one of the sturdiest ornaments Hallmark has ever done because it’s sitting on, well, a block.

But if you want to hang it on your tree, you’ll find the look in the top of Boba Fett’s helmet.  He essentially hangs straight with a slight tip behind him and to the left.  It’s only noticeable if you are looking for it, however.

Boba Fett is the latest in an unofficial series Hallmark was producing of Lego Star Wars characters.  Unfortunately, this series has stalled out at four since they’ve lost the Lego license.  Hopefully, they will get it back soon and be able to continue on and give us more Lego characters.

For now, Lego Boba Fett will be a popular ornament on the secondary market thanks to the popularity of the character.  If you are one of his fans, you’ll definitely want to pick it up today.

Original Price: $14.95

Happy Star Wars Day!

TV Recap - Once Upon a Time 4-20 - Mother

I feel almost like with tonight’s episode, they pulled off what they did last year – wrapping things up in the penultimate episode of the season to give us an exciting two part finale with one focus.  Okay, so they didn’t completely wrap everything up, but I do think that my theories about Mal and Lily and even Emma were proved wrong as I feel their stories are finished without the big drama and fights I was expecting.  If it weren’t for the Author and Gold, they could all live happily ever after.

But we can’t have that.  And I’m getting ahead of myself, so let’s back up to the Enchanted Forest and the flashback.

We join Regina on an anniversary.  A very sad one.  She’s so upset she takes out her anger on a peasant getting married without permission in a royal meadow.  Yes, it is the anniversary of Daniel’s death.  But when she goes to the grave of her late fiancé, she finds that someone else has already been there – Cora.