Children's Book Review: Om-Bork by Robert Lampros, illustrated by Heather Denise Cotter

Summary:

Om-Bork is the story of a young man who meets an alien and learns about faith, prayer, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Release Date: September 2015

Age Group: 7-12 years

Review copy received from author

Reviewed By: Kelli

Review:

Om-Bork was a sweet and fun read.  I really enjoyed it! 

I don't think I've ever read a Christian science fiction children's book before, so Om-Bork is definitely unique in that sense.  I wasn't sure how Robert Lampros would pull all of those elements together, but he did it very well.  

The story was engaging and meaningful.  As well as funny!  The illustrations really added a lot of depth, humor and meaning to the story.  I loved Om-Bork's face and facial expressions.

Being that I have a four year old and this book is recommended for ages 7-12, I read Om-Bork on my own.  But, I think children ages 5 and up would understand and enjoy Om-Bork.

I really liked this book and would definitely read more from Robert Lampros.

Author Bio:

Robert Lampros lives in St. Louis, Missouri.  He earned a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis.  Om-Bork is the first children's story he has published.

Illustrator Bio:

Heather Denise Cotter, a  native of Jamestown, NY, currently resides in St. Louis, MO.   Her portfolio includes e-art 

portraits & illustrations and an assortment of other forms of conventional art.  In addition to art, Heather enjoys 

serving God, spending time with family & friends, and writing music.

More Details:

Title:                    Om-Bork

Author:                Robert Lampros
Illustrator:           Heather Denise Cotter

Publisher:            JBS-Publishing and CreateSpace
Release Date:      09/2015
ISBN:                  pending

Format:               Paperback, Digital  (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kindle, NOOK)

Pages:                 38
Price:                   p: $11.99, e: $4.99

Ages:                   7-12 yrs.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: Overtaken by Mark Kruger

Today we're hosting a giveaway for Mark Kruger's Overtaken, the second novel in the Overpowered series.  This giveaway is courtesy of Saichek Publicity.  Thank you to Wiley for this great giveaway! 

Summary
Nica struggles to decipher the nefarious forces ruling her small town in this electrifying sequel to Overpowered, which VOYA says "offers all the conspiracy and intrigue of the best dystopian fiction."

After the mysterious pulses changed Nica Ashley’s life forever, she was sure things could only get worse when Dana Fox returned. Her reappearance after having gone missing for months surely means not only that Nica will lose her friendship with Jackson, but also that something more ominous is simmering under the surface of quiet Barrington.

When another pulse occurs, Nica discovers that she can be invisible at any time. She tries to talk to her friends about how bizarre things have become, but they all seem to have no idea what she is talking about. Nica soon realizes that Dana has a strange control over the whole town, including her undercover, government-agent father.

Now on her own, Nica must stop BarTech from using her and her friends as weapons. But can she figure out their ultimate plan before it is too late?

Release Date:  May 5, 2015, 416 pages
Age Group: YA

 
About the Author

Mark H. Kruger is a screen and TV writer specializing in edge-of-your-seat thrillers and supernatural suspense. He has contributed to many television series and movies but is best known for having written and produced for The 4400, Necessary Roughness and the upcoming horror series Damien, and for working with filmmakers Clive Barker, Wes Craven and Bill Condon. Mark lives in Los Angeles and is the author of Overpowered and the upcoming Overtaken.

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Book Review: The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts by K.C. Tansley

Summary: 

Kat Preston doesn’t believe in ghosts. Not because she’s never seen one, but because she saw one too many. Refusing to believe is the only way to protect herself from the ghost that tried to steal her life. Kat’s disbelief keeps her safe until her junior year at McTernan Academy, when a research project for an eccentric teacher takes her to a tiny, private island off the coast of Connecticut.

The site of a grisly mystery, the Isle of Acacia is no place for a girl who ignores ghosts, but the ghosts leave Kat little choice. Accompanied by her research partner, Evan Kingsley, she investigates the disappearance of Cassie Mallory and Sebastian Radcliffe on their wedding night in 1886. Evan’s scientific approach to everything leaves Kat on her own to confront a host of unbelievables: ancestral curses, powerful spells, and her strange connection to the ghosts that haunt Castle Creighton.

But that’s all before Kat’s yanked through a magic portal and Evan follows her. When the two of them awaken 129 years in the past with their souls trapped inside the bodies of two wedding guests, everything changes. Together, Kat and Evan race to stop the wedding-night murders and find a way back to their own time—and their own bodies—before their souls slip away forever.

Release Date: August 1, 2015

Age Group: YA

Source: Review copy from publisher

Reviewed By: Evan

Review:

It was thrilling to once again read a book I couldn’t put down! I had goose-bumps from the first chapter to the last. 

The author had me hooked immediately and kept it that way. Each time I thought I had a good idea of how this mystery would play out, I was thrown for a loop. 

The settings were described beautifully, the characters were captivating. Prepare to get attached to the “unbelievables” as well; Ghosts who play a very active role in this dramatic read. 

This is the first book in a series that I hope will continue very soon.

 

Book Review: Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi

Summary: 

From the author of the best-selling Mafia exposé, Wiseguy, comes this inside story of the billion-dollar gambling industry and the secretive, dangerous men who run it. At the heart of this true tale of love, revenge, and murder Mafia-style are some of the most memorable characters in mob lore: Lefty, the brains of the mob's Vegas casinos; Tony Spilotro, the mob's muscle; and Geri, Lefty's adulterous show-girl wife.

Release Date:  December 31, 1996

Age Group: Adult

Source: Purchased

Reviewed By: ForeverWorming

Review:

Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas is a morality tale among two thieves who tried to begin a new life in Sin City. Everything was fine until betrayal came along and stirred quite an act that affected everyone around both men.

One of the men was the brains, while the other was the brawns – a two-man act necessary to cripple the betting world of Las Vegas. The brains was called Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal, a shrewd sports handicapper who had a genius for controlling the odds in any kind of sports game, even if it meant bribing a sports team’s upper management. Rosenthal is one of the gods of Las Vegas’ sportsbooks, which was sought-after by the criminally-minded elites who watched and wagered on almost any sporting event in America.

The muscle was Anthony “The Ant” Spilotro, a longtime confidant of Lefty whose job was to rule with an iron fist and keep watch on the mob’s gambling interests. He is regularly informed by local insurance brokers of the whereabouts of the best jewels, making him a very important asset for anyone who wants to steal anything.

The story is a riveting look at the dark alleys of the gaming industry’s insider games during the mob’s rule of Las Vegas. Several years ago, Las Vegas wasn't all about "world-class luxury and elegance" and "breezy and beautiful," as information portal Mayfair Casinos claims with the city's establishments. The book provides a blow-by-blow account on how organized crime stole from the casinos as it controlled every form of wagering from the shadows. The book shows how fixings were being done by the persona of Lefty, whose handicapping talents made him a non-violent, yet extremely dangerous, villain during the years when he is most active. Everything started to go wrong when Lefty married a beautiful, but emotionally-unstable, showgirl, who eventually commits a terrible crime against her husband: sleep with The Ant. It was civil war when her act of betrayal was discovered by Lefty. The brains eventually ratted the brawns out, and everyone who enjoyed benefits, down to the smallest fry, from Lefty’s fixings got involved. Love and Honor in Las Vegas is a cautionary tale of what respect means in the world of crooks. It is a nice read for those who want to get a glimpse of the mob’s rule in Las Vegas.

Exclusively written for I’d So Rather Be Reading
By ForeverWorming

 

Book Spotlight: Living in the Shadows by Judith Barrow

Living in the Shadows by Judith Barlow

Publication Date: July 16, 2015
Honno Press eBook &
Paperback; 320 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Family Saga

 

It's 1969 and Mary Schormann is living quietly in Wales with her ex-POW husband, Peter, and her teenage twins, Richard and Victoria. Her niece, Linda Booth, is a nurse - following in Mary's footsteps - and works in the maternity ward of her local hospital in Lancashire. At the end of a long night shift, a bullying new father visits the maternity ward and brings back Linda's darkest nightmares, her terror of being locked in. Who is this man, and why does he scare her so? There are secrets dating back to the war that still haunt the family, and finding out what lies at their root might be the only way Linda can escape their murderous consequences. Sequel to the acclaimed Changing Patterns and Pattern of Shadows.

 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Judith Barrow has lived in Pembrokeshire for thirty years. She is the author of three novels, and has published poetry and short fiction, winning several poetry competitions, as well as writing three children's books and a play performed at the Dylan Thomas Centre. Judith grew up in the Pennines, has degrees in literature and creative writing and makes regular appearances at literary festivals.

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BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, September 21 Spotlight & Giveaway at One Book Shy of a Full Shelf  
Tuesday, September 22 Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past  
Wednesday, September 23 Spotlight at I'd So Rather Be Reading  
Thursday, September 24 Spotlight at What Is That Book About  
Saturday, September 26 Guest Post at The Writing Desk  
Sunday, September 27 Review at A Chick Who Reads  
Monday, September 28 Review at Book Nerd Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection