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New Loot:

• Stories from the Life of Jesus by Celia Barker Lottridge
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
• It's Not About Perfect by Shannon Miller
• Won Ton by Lee Wardlaw
• The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest
• Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
• Louise & Andie: The Art of Friendship by Kelly Light
• Won Ton and Chopstick by Lee Wardlaw
• This Is My Dollhouse by Giselle Potter
• March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin
• March: Book Two by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin

  Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Linda from Silly Little Mischief that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens. Brandon Sanderson. 2010. Scholastic. 294 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: So there I was, holding a pink teddy bear in my hand.

Premise/plot: The fourth book in the Alcatraz fantasy series for children. Is Alcatraz brave or stupid in this one? He insists that bravery and stupidity are essentially the same. The free kingdom of Mokia is in danger of falling. Their capital city seems doomed to fall within days...if not hours. The royal family has been evacuated, so we're told, and unless a famous person whose life is so very, very, very valuable is there to be saved, no knights or soldiers will be endangered or sacrificed recklessly. Alcatraz's scheme? To go to Mokia so that the KNIGHTS will go to Mokia. Once he arrives, he learns, well, that would be SPOILERS. But he learns that he isn't the only person with Smedry blood to be stupid or brave. Bastille is along for this adventure....Kaz as well.

The new character introduced in this one is Aydee, and, her talent is being BAD AT MATH.

My thoughts: This one is definitely the best of the series perhaps. Or rereading all four books within two weeks has made me care so very much about these characters?! Either way, I recommend the series.

This book left so many unanswered questions. I had almost come to terms with having no true answers...when I learned that the fifth book will be released this year. So after years, I can finally know what happens next!

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia. Brandon Sanderson. 2009. Scholastic. 299 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: So there I was, hanging upside down underneath a gigantic glass bird, speeding along at a hundred miles an hour above the ocean, in no danger whatsoever.

Premise/plot: This is the third book in the Alcatraz fantasy series. IN this one, Alcatraz and company arrive at last in the Free Kingdoms, in Nalhalla. Alcatraz wrestles with fame and ego in this one. Though raised in the Hushlands in a Librarian-controlled nation, he's FAMOUS in Nalhalla already, even starring in his own book series. (The book series being written by the Prince himself). Open up one of his books, and his theme music plays. You don't really get more famous than Alcatraz Smedry, of course, it's not really, truly HIM that is famous, more an idea of him. Also in this one, Bastille is put on trial. Will she be stripped of knighthood? How long will her punishment last? I should also not forget to mention that the LIBRARIANS want to come to peaceful terms and end the war at last. But Alcatraz and his friends suspect the WORST. But so many people want peace that they seem willing to give the Librarians the benefit of the doubt....

My thoughts: This one is an action-packed read full of fun and humor. I love this series. And I think I enjoyed this third book even more than the first two books. Folsom was a great new character to introduce--loved his talent, by the way. And it was nice to meet a librarian who wasn't evil for a change!!!

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

It's publication day for Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe- huurah! This is the Christmassy follow up novella to the bestselling Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe which I absolutely loved. To help celebrate the books release I am sharing with you my favourite Christmassy comfort foods. I know some of you might be raising your eyebrows as it is only September, but Christmas comes but once a year and I think September is the perfect month to start getting you all in the mood.1. Mince Pies


Right at the top of my list, it has to be mince pies and they absolutely must be warmed up. It didn't use to matter to me whether they were hot or cold, but there is just something about taking your first bite of a hot mince pie to warm the cockles of your heart. It is safe to say that I feel very content when eating a mince pie and I have visions of myself curled up on the sofa eating one right now.

2. Ginger Bread


I love all things ginger bread, whether it's gingerbread men (or women!), houses etc. I love how creative people can get with gingerbread- thinks back to Bake Off! So basically I love eating it and looking at it lol. I never miss out on an opportunity to get myself some gingerbread whilst out and about and although it's not food, I also cannot resist a gingerbread latte!3. Pigs in blankets


Although traditionally served at Christmas, I could eat these all year round. I'm not sure which genius came up with this idea, but it is literally the yummiest thing.

4. Yule Log


I really can't put my finger on what makes a yule log so much tastier than any other chocolate, but this one really is the business. As soon as you take a bite it just melts in your mouth. Proper chocolatey comfort food at its very best.

5. Christmas day lunch/dinner- depending when you have it


Not exactly a comfort food as you really only have it one day a year and there is a lot of it, but Christmas lunch just blows everything else out the park for me. Not only are you having it on one of the best days of the year, you have the excuse to really overindulge and enjoy yourself. I'm looking forward to it already.All that talk of my favourite comfort foods has now left me feeling very hungry! Thank god some shops have got these things in already, I'm off to get me some comfort food.More about Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe





Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe is out in ebook today from amazon and in paperback on 20th October and available from Foyles 

The Scourge. Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2016. Scholastic. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Few things were worth the risk to my life, but the juicy vinefruit was one of them. Even more so today because I was long past hungry. If I didn't eat something soon, my life was in danger anyway.

Premise/plot: Ani and Weevil are best, best friends who will face much DANGER together in Jennifer Nielsen's newest fantasy book, The Scourge. It has been hundreds of years since the plague--the scourge--has devastated their country. The scourge has left its mark on their history. And the fear of it has never completely gone away. Now, it seems, almost out of nowhere, the scourge is back. Those who test positive for the scourge are sent to an isolated island--a former prison--to live out the rest of their lives. Ani and Weevil end up there. (It's complicated to try to summarize). And they will spend most of their time a) trying to survive b) distinguishing between lies and truth c) trying to change the way things are.

My thoughts: If you love Shannon Hale's fantasy novels, you MUST read The Scourge. I greatly enjoyed this one. And I think it has a similar feel to some of Hale's novels. This one is, however, different from Nielsen's other series. It is perhaps slightly less action-packed than her previous books. And it is written from a female perspective.

© 2016 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews