ebook review: Saved by the bell

The classic TV series gets an update for today’s brand new high-schoolers as the coolest kids at Bayside High start their freshman year!

All your favorite characters – Zack, Slater, Kelly, Lisa, Screech and Jessie (and Mr. Belding, of course!) – are starting freshman year at Bayside High, trading in brick phones and mullets for iPhones and Twitter accounts. Does Lisa’s fashion show get on the air, and will Screech ever leave her alone? Will Jessie get that A+? And, most importantly, who’s Kelly going to go out with – preppy Zack or new star athlete A.C. Slater? It’s alright, ‘cause we’re saved by the bell!

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My Review:

I loved this ebook. It was a bit small on my smartphone, but still readable if you double click the pictures and short enough not to matter too much. Anyone with a tablet or kindle won't have any problems.

The storylines and drawing style are reminiscent of the Archie comics, which is great. And while reading this as a fan of Saved by the bell was enjoyable, the show relies on speed between scenes and audio cues for the humor, so a little was lost there.

Overall, if I saw this in the impulse aisle at Wal-Mart I would probably get it. If I had limited funds and went to the bookstore, I probably would pass on it.

ebook review: Black Widow Forever Red

Enter the world of the Avengers' iconic master spy 

Natasha Romanoff is one of the world's most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow's infamous academy for operatives.

Ava Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life has been anything but average.The daughter of a missing Russian quantum physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military experiments-until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious savior, but Black Widow isn't really the big sister type.

Until now.

When children all over Eastern Europe begin to go missing, and rumors of smuggled Red Room tech light up the dark net, Natasha suspects her old teacher has returned-and that Ava Orlova might be the only one who can stop him. To defeat the madman who threatens their future, Natasha and Ava must unravel their pasts. Only then will they discover the truth about the dark-eyed boy with an hourglass tattoo who haunts Ava's dreams. . . .

Black Widow:Forever Red features all the heart-pounding adventure readers expect from Marvel, written by #1 New York Times best-selling author Margaret Stohl. Uncover a new side of the Marvel Universe that will thrill loyal fans and newcomers alike, as Stohl reveals the untold story of Black Widow for the very first time.

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My Review:

Disney was kind enough to let me read this book for free through NetGalley. I had begun to think they blacklisted me or something. (kidding, Disney!) Anyway, FTC, honest review, y'all know the drill.

I was really, really excited for this book. Like, SUPER excited. Not only am I a Marvel geek, but when I was an active writer, I was part of a text roleplaying group and I wrote as the Black Widow. You know, for...research. Or practice. Or something.

I was not disappointed in the least with Natasha's voice or character depiction. We meet her shortly after she joins Shield and takes down Ivan, who was her captor in the Red Room. She also saves Ava, who we get to later. Marvel fans will enjoy her character, as well as Coulson's. 

So, Ava. LOVE her character. Alex: a close second favorite. I liked him, but I wouldn't say I loved him.

Together: Total insta-love. At least it makes sense, kind of, because of who they are, but still.

Natasha: I wanted more. I really, really want more. Like, five more books more. There was not enough of her in this book. 


Overall: The relationship of Ava and Alex fell short of my expectations by two points. But the prose was great, the characters mostly great, and it definitely set the scene for me to read the next book. If there is one. God, I hope there is one. Would I buy it? Yes, but probably as a gift for all of my friends. I'll get a hard copy for myself when I get that mansion-sized library for Christmas.

Rating: 4.8

The Mutt's Winter Diaries

Yesh! Mooch, Earl, and all their endearing Mutts friends are back in this second Mutts collection for kids!

Mutts highlights the adventures of Earl the dog and Mooch the cat, best buddies who regularly come in contact with Shtinky Puddin, Sourpuss, Guard Dog, and Crabby--as well as an assortment of whimsically rendered humans. This cast is capable of endless antics, interspersed with thoughtful views on both the animal and human condition. And whether they're raiding garbage cans or basking in full-frontal belly rubs, Mooch and Earl always have a comment to clinch the scene.

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My Review:

Seeing as these comics were apparently in newspapers, you think the author would have taken a cue from Garfield and made the book horizontal so we wouldn't be turning our heads sideways to see the Sunday comics. Aside from that, this collection of comics was entertaining but not necessarily great. If I came across a free newspaper (for whatever reason, our News Company doesn't deliver to apartments) I'd read it as I perused the comics. But if I saw this in a store or Library I'd most likely pass it by. I'm sure if silly domesticated animals are your passion, though, you'd enjoy this collection. 

Review: Heart and Brain

From paying taxes and getting up for work to dancing with kittens and starting a band, readers everywhere will relate to the ongoing struggle between Heart and Brain.

Heart and Brain: An Awkward Yeti Collection illustrates the relationship between the sensible Brain and its emotionally driven counterpart, the Heart.

Boasting more than one million pageviews per month, TheAwkwardYeti.com has become a webcomic staple since its creation in 2012.


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My Review:
When I saw the cover of this book on NetGalley, I immediately recognized it. That's the thing about comics--at least one from every book is floating around the internet somewhere. Obviously this is a good thing, because I requested a copy to review right away, anticipating hw much I would like it based off of what I've seen before. And I really enjoyed it! It was funny, I found myself sharing pages with my husband, I put off smoking a cigarette to finish reading the entire thing. I'd definitely follow the author on tumblr and read this comic online regularly. But would I buy a print copy of it? probably not. Would I buy a kindle version of it? Sure, for the right price. Would I pick it up and show it to someone in a library? Definitely. So, overall it's not the BEST thing in the world, but it's definitely a close second.