Books Direct

 

 

Books are the best gifts for book lovers regardless of the occasion. It is nice, though, to give or receive an interesting companion, an intriguing detail, a special piece along with the book, of course. Today we've prepared this set of gifts for your No 1 book lover.

 

And starting from Monday watch out for a special Valentine's week book love story project with great bookish pieces written by BookLikes bloggers :)

 

1. Peacock Paper Heart Stud Earrings ->

"These heart stud earrings feature tiny, delicate folds that create a soft shaped heart full of love to go around, perfect for a gift."

 

 

 

2. Message in a Bottle Necklace ->

"Message in a Bottle Necklace with a beautiful love poem ~ this handmade pendant is a token of heartfelt love."

 

 

 

3. Paper read and gold hearts necklace->

"This origami hearts necklace is perfect for the heart lover. With three hearts folded from red and gold washi paper it will add love to your outfit."

 

 

 

4. Literary brooch ->

"This lovely little handmade brooch is just perfect for the person in your life who has a passion for books and literacy."

 

 

 

5. Temporary tattoos for book lovers, set of two->

Not sure if a tattoo is your cup of tea? Give it a try with this temporary set of literary tattoos, the set of two matching tattoos is a perfect Valentine's evening project.

 

 

6. Origami paper roses ->

"An abandoned book (usually collected from charity shops) will get a second chance to create dreams for the one you love."

 

 

 

7. You and Me artwork ->

"This artwork is made from paper hearts cut from a range of lovely vintage sheet music and romantic poems. The hearts have been layered and stitched into chains with a single red heart nestled in amongst them. The heart is printed with the words, 'You and Me' but can also be personalised."

 

 

 

8. Personalized location map print ->

"Make a beautiful print of anywhere you choose-- for example: a place you've lived, where you got married, your favourite destination... The world is your oyster!"

 

 

 

9. Cat notebook ->

"This fab A6 cat notebook is a perfect little gift for that crazy cat lady you know or makes a lovely treat for yourself!"

 

 

 

10. Cinder by Marissa Meyer inspired T-shirt ->

12. Personalized Kindle Case ->

"Each case is fully lined and wadded, with an elastic loop and button fastening at the top. Ensuring that your kindle or tablet will be safe and secure.Available in 3 colour ways. Choose from stone linen, pink cotton or blue cotton."

 

 

 

 13. Wuthering Heights bookmark ->

"This bookmark is completely hand made and handwritten. It features a quotation from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: "Whatever our souls are made of his and mine are the same", hand-calligraphed in permanent and waterproof purple ink on lilac cardboard. The bookmark is decorated with small leaves and red flowers."

 

 

 

 14. Glasses case from Which glasses are which ->

"Makes a brilliant gift for anyone who mislays their specs, especially bookworms and crossword puzzlers"

 

 

 

15. Romantic bookmarks with quotes ->

Beautiful bookmarks are always the best gifts and when they present the romantic quotes they become the best Valentine's present.

 

 

What are your perfect Valentine's gift ideas?

 

When Luna the Labrador loses her favorite yellow ball, she asks Shiloh for help. Shiloh, in turn, seeks help from her many friends around the farm. Will Luna get her ball back with the help of Shiloh and friends?

Shiloh and Luna are two dogs based on the author's real pets. The story is told only in dialogue, with each character's speech designated by a small icon. As they become more proficient readers, the kids will have fun taking turns reading out the parts of the different animals.

The illustrations are bright and colorful, with plenty to keep young eyes occupied. The kids will learn their colors as they read along, with many references to different colored objects. They will also learn to identify different animals, with a selection of farm animals being featured. This might be a good opportunity to reinforce the different noises animals make, as well. You can even get the kids to count different things, such as the flowers, clouds, and trees. And it's all wrapped up with a nice message that friends can work together to solve a problem.

A fun read with a lot of teaching opportunities.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/lunas-lost-ball-by-r-a-milnes-ii.html

Bubbles is a little frog who is a little bit different to the other frogs. He has a big, embarrassing problem - he can't help but make smelly bubbles in the communal pond. The other frogs all decide it's time for him to go. But when disaster strikes, who will come to the rescue?

The illustrations by Fran Riddell are beyond cute. The kids will have fun trying to spot the little red ladybug while they are reading the story. This book is a nice reminder that we are all different, but that our differences are not necessarily bad.

Recommended for children ages three to seven, especially boys.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/bubbles-by-ben-woodard.html

This is another in Wally Runnel's series featuring Rocky, an ex-military, one-armed hitman. In this story, Rocky reluctantly agrees to find Moya, the aunt of his best friend, Hector. Moya is both a curandera (witch) and a nagual (shapeshifter). But what Rocky encounters is even weirder than even he expected.

Rocky is an interesting character with a skewed moral compass; he dislikes killing animals - even snakes - but has no problem killing humans - as long as he is paid to do so. The author skilfully interweaves Rocky's back story into the narrative, making us understand his motivations and his never-ending quest for his lost love, Bo Kwan. Set in the In-Ko-Pah mountain ranges on the border of California and Mexico, the author gives us a great sense of place and deftly creates a sinister atmosphere. And he has impeccable timing when delivering the final blow.

Enjoy!

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/mothers-nature-by-wally-runnels.html

This is a fascinating account of the history of The Castel du Mont, where the author grew up with the dubious honor of being the first legitimate child to be born there. The author presents us with a history of The Castel, interwoven with three different stories pieced together from many years of painstaking research and interviews with the old villagers. There is the story of Bianca, who has an affair with Percivalle, the son of her husband, Count Di Massimo; the story of Clara, the miller's daughter, who undergoes an "initiation" at the hands of the Padrone of The Castel and his priest, Father Francesco; and finally, we have the heart-breaking story of Roxanne and young Father Claudio.

Each story is an account of the sex, lies, and scandals surrounding the aristocracy of The Castel and senior members of church. There are a number of editing errors in the manuscript but, overall, it is very well-written and the author has a great style that lends itself to historical fiction.

A real-page turner, this one will leave you wanting more.

Warnings: sex scenes, violence.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-sins-of-castel-du-mont-by-rosemary-kohler.html

Maia wakes up in the desert and can't remember who she is. She fears someone is out to get her, but who? With the help of Jaren, she starts regaining her memory and is slowly able to piece together her past. But when she finally does, she struggles to find the purpose for her existence.

This is a lovely tale of longing, love, and sacrifice. We, too, must work to piece together the puzzle that is Maia's life. Another beautifully written and touching story by Pavarti K. Tyler.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/heavens-vault-by-pavarti-k-tyler.html

In Simple Sleep Solutions, the author shares a simple technique that works for him 90% of the time. After discussing some basic factors that may influence sleep, he shares his technique and cites some reasons for its effectiveness. He also provides tips for adapting the technique to suit your own needs. The second part of the book deals with dreams and how they can affect both your sleeping and waking life. Tips for remembering your dreams are also provided. The book is illustrated throughout with photographs that help set the mood and promote relaxation.

This book is very spiritual in nature, and it is clear that the author is passionate about the subject and keen to help others with their sleep problems. The technique outlined is certainly worth trying if you have trouble sleeping. There is also a list of websites and articles providing solutions of a more physical nature.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2015/05/simple-sleep-solutions-by-jp-nicolais.html

After an unexplained event takes out all electricity, communications, and transportation in the US - and possibly the rest of the world - we follow two men searching for the same girl: Michael Clavell is in Connecticut and is trying to find his way to his girlfriend in New York; and Liam McCalister disembarks from a cruise ship in Massachusetts and tries to find his sister. During their travels, Michael and Liam encounter extreme violence, but also great gestures of kindness, friendship, and even love.

Throughout the course of the book, we are introduced to an enormous cast of characters - too many to keep track of even with the list at the beginning. Most of the female characters are not portrayed in a very attractive light. However, most of the male characters are not to be admired either, being violent and/or sexually depraved. A couple of ruthless men take advantage of the situation and set themselves up as leaders, forming their own communities with hierarchies and rules, mostly for their own advantage. This book provides a surreal glimpse into what lengths some people will go to in order to survive, and what trivialities other people will cling to in the face of doom. While this book deals with a lot of serious issues, it maintains a mostly ironic and slightly humorous tone.

Overall, I felt that most situations were resolved too easily. However, be warned, there is a cliffhanger ending and many issues do remain unresolved.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/finding-harry-styles-by-g-b-hope.html

Darker Places is a collection of thirteen poems interspersed with thirteen short stories, mainly horror or paranormal, with a hint of humor in some. They focus mainly on the themes of death, love, loss, hunger, and the passage of time.

The author comes up with some truly memorable lines in both his stories and poems, but the rhyming in some of the poems is a bit forced; I much prefer the free verse. The stories are well-written and full of atmosphere but can become a bit repetitive, with death staring everyone in the face. As such, this collection is probably best sampled in small doses, much like a box of fine chocolates. Enjoy!

The poems:
Echo
Words
Moonlight
Summer Loving
Swept Away
The House on the Hill
Little Dead Riding Hood
Phoenix
Gremlins
Time
Never Again
The Face of the Storm
Fallen

The stories:
Hunger
Canvas
The Coming
Secrets
The Masquerade
The Lake
Home
Creature
Soul
The Crow
Footsteps
Stolen Moments
Prelude

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2015/05/darker-places-by-shaun-allan.html

Bubba the dolphin meets a creature with a dorsal fin and a tail similar to his own. It turns out to be Ollie the Orca, who is in need of rescuing. Find out how Bubba saves Ollie and makes a new friend.

The illustrations by Mike Motz are extremely cute and help bring the story to life. There is a nice lesson for the kids here about not venturing out alone.

I look forward to sharing the further adventures of Bubba and his buddies.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2015/05/ollie-the-orca-by-laura-maw.html

Lola's friend Sydney is in rehab and so is Lola's crush, actor Wade Miller. So, when Sydney asks Lola to join her for a detox holiday at Sunrise Rehabilitation Center, Lola fakes an alcohol addiction to get admitted - only to find out that Sydney has checked herself out! Now Lola is stuck in rehab with two roommates who cause her grief and a seriously bossy mentor. Lola is forced to confront a few home truths, but she might find romance in an unexpected place - and this fake rehab stint might turn out to be the best thing she's ever done.

This book is laugh-out-loud funny in some parts, especially when Lola is checking into rehab and during the trip to Disneyland. Lola is funny, sassy, and slightly misguided, but you can't help but like her. It's nice to see her growth over the course of the book.

A light, funny, romantic story with a few sobering (excuse the pun) moments.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2015/05/lola-carlyles-12-step-romance-by-danielle-younge-ullman.html

Join Rachel as she plays in her garden with her dog, Sammy, on a typical spring day. You will learns about the different colors as they relate to nature. Rachel also demonstrates ten yoga poses, each with a corresponding keyword in the text (e.g., sun, rain, tree, etc.). The poses are summarized at the end of the book. There is also a Parent-Teacher Guide to help you get the most out of sharing this story with young children.

The collage-like illustrations by Hazel Quintanilla are absolutely breathtaking. You'll have to go back over the book just to admire them. This is a beautiful and educational book, perfect for spending a bit of quality time with the little ones and to encourage them to get active.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/rachels-day-in-the-garden-by-giselle-shardlow.html

A young girl shares her secret diary, in which she reveals the "truth" about her life from ages 11 to 13. She tells us about her family, her best friend Angela, the new boy Paul who she has a crush on, her inability to communicate with her mother, her annoying six-year-old brother, getting picked last for the kickball team, and even a few "gross" personal secrets.

As you can see, this book covers a diverse range of topics. It will open up the lines of discussion for parents to talk to their tween girls about getting their first bra, having a crush on a boy, swearing, parents fighting, younger siblings, mean girls, independence, wearing makeup, self-esteem, fighting with their best friend, animal cruelty, the Holocaust, school grades, keeping healthy, menstruation, the fear of growing up, death, suicide, moving home, coping with homework, taking drugs, and body image.

I believe this is an updated version of the book originally published in 2007. While there are many modern references (e.g., computers, Facebook, cell phones, email), there is also reference to a phone with a dial (not buttons) and having to retype a three-page paper (not necessary if you're using a computer). The books the girl reads are also really old (e.g., Nancy Drew, Little House on the Prairie, Black Beauty) and, even though this is somewhat explained later in the book, it still feels like this is more what the author herself would have read as a child.

I encountered a few other problems: the diary entries are a bit too far apart to be real (e.g., the girl skips over Christmas two years in a row); the girl's friends should have come over on July 17 when she was going to teach them how to bake brownies, but this didn't happen until August 7); there are unanswered questions, such as how her fight with Angela is resolved; the girl only mentions her new friend Dawn a few weeks after they first meet; from the beginning of the diary to December 5, each entry ends with a "truth", then there is no mention of the "truth" until June 30 the next year.

As an adult I found the book to be a bit contrived and preachy, but it is probably well-suited to the 10 to 13 young adult target audience. It brings back memories of first love and the intense emotions of friendship and wanting to fit in. The story is followed by discussion questions for kids.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-truth-by-barbara-becker-holstein.html

Every woman Markus comes into contact with, dies inexplicably. His only friends are Bach and Gian, the tutor of the awkward sixteen-year-old Violett. Markus becomes obsessed with Violett but spends his time actively avoiding her, as he doesn't wish any harm to come to her. But then, they finally meet ...

As Violett says about Markus, she is "already in love with his style of explanation ... ". Well, that's how I feel about this author's writing. The writing is beautiful, whimsical, funny, and heartbreaking. It is full of dark humor and longing, and reminds us of those intense feelings of first love.

The paranormal element surprised me but, at that point, I already loved the story and the characters so much that I didn't care. And the ending ... Why did it end like that? Why didn't anyone tell me there is another book after this one? As much as I hate cliffhangers, I still have to give this book 5 stars.

My top pick of the year so far. Absolutely delightful.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2015/05/death-and-jelly-by-cara-doll.html

Katie and the North Star is written by Bethany Lopez and her daughter Katie, after whom the main character is named. In the story, Katie befriends a fallen star and wants it to stay with her. However, she finds out this star is Polaris, the North Star, who must make its way home. Katie learns about the importance of the North Star in helping travelers find their way.

The illustrations by Hetty Mitchell are absolutely delightful; I just wish there were more of them. They give the story an old-fashioned feel and, because of this, the story is timeless.

This book will teach your little ones about friendship - and even a bit of astronomy!

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post: http://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2015/04/katie-and-the-north-star-by-bethany-and-katie-lopez.html