Review: My Superhero Sister by Toni LoTempio

• Product Details
• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 278 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Toni LoTempio (January 25, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004KZP1Q4

Purchase Information
Amazon
Smashwords
Holly Hamilton has always been perturbed by the way her older sister, Ellen, seems to get everything. It's especially tough living in the shadow of your sister's cape when she's a super heroine named Suprema!

With one super-parent and one not, it was inevitable that the girls would turn out different. Unfortunately for Holly, she takes after her earthling mother. Ellen has taken over their retired father’s role as Century City's reigning superhero, balancing school and super-duties with remarkable ease while it’s a struggle for Holly to get through her English class without mishap, not to mention those Cheer Squad tryouts!
The girls learn their father’s old nemeses, Anti-Hero, has escaped from his Space Prison, and they’re concerned – Anti-Hero nullified their father’s powers once – what else does he have in store for him and Suprema? When another teen superhero extraordinaire appears on the scene, they’re even more puzzled. Who is Magna Boy? Is he friend or foe? And does he have a connection to Anti-Hero? The appearance of two new guys at school, teen heartthrob Tad Barker and nerd Ed McGee, set Holly and her sister to wondering—and arguing—could one of them be the new super kid on the block? If so, which one? 
Working with her friend Mona and her scientist uncle, Holly finally uncovers Anti-Hero’s dastardly plot – he intends to capture Suprema and Magna Boy and siphon their powers for himself! Before she can warn her sibling, however, Anti-Hero strikes and captures the superheroes. Now it’s up to Holly to use her ingenuity and prove to everyone, but most of all herself, that you don’t’ have to be a superhero for good to win out over evil…or to nab a super-boyfriend, either!

______________

My Superhero Sister by Toni LoTempio is a light, fun read. One you could probably read in one sitting. I loved all the aspects of a traditional superhero story, with the story not actually being about the superhero, but her very normal little sister. Holly is the focus of MSS, but she is a wonderful character. She’s smart, funny and has a little bit of an unusual hobby. She likes to collect bugs. Her fascination with them plays a pivotal role in the story too. Her and her sister Ellen have a normal sibling relationship, it’s just Ellen has super powers. Holly is of course sometimes slightly envious of her sister, but realizes being a superhero is not as fun as she thinks. She has a great relationship with her parents. Her mother is very loving and worries about her little half superhero family. Her father is a vet in his downtime, being the other superhero in their family. Anti-hero is the bad guy and is of course bent on world domination. He’s one of those smart-dumb people. You can't help but dislike him. It ends up being Holly who mostly saves the day with an unexpected transformation. She has the help of her best friend Mona, and Mona's uncle Professor Kane. I would say this is a book for younger readers, maybe the 10-15 year olds. The story is engaging and the characters are fun. There is a little romance, but it’s only G rated and is very cute and sweet. I found quite a bit of the story funny, it made me smile. If you’re after something for your younger readers then grab a copy of My Superhero Sister, you won’t be disappointed.

I give it 3.5/5.

The author kindly provided me with a copy of this ebook for review.

Don't forget that you can win one of two copies of My Superhero Sister, just by telling me who your favorite superhero is. Click here.

Character Interview: Holly & Ellen - My Superhero Sister + Giveaway

An interview with: Holly and Ellen Hamilton of MY SUPERHERO SISTER!

TLT: Welcome, girls! And thank you for doing this interview!

Ellen: No problemo! I’m happy to take time out of my daily patrol to help you.

Holly: And I’m always glad to get out of English Class 

TLT: Ellen: What is your favorite superpower?

Ellen: Oh, golly. There’s so many I like, but I guess I like my Expando-Breath. It really comes in handy at times, like if I have to get Holly somewhere in a hurry.

TLT: What about you, Holly? If you were super, what would your favorite power be?

Holly: Flying, definitely. People tell me my head’s always in the clouds anyway 

TLT: What sort of person are you? Day or Night?

Ellen: That’s tough. I guess night. Flying up among the stars basking in the glow of the moon is really cool.

Holly: I’m day. That’s when I do my best experiments in Prof Kane’s basement!

TLT: Favorite Movie:

Ellen: Wow – any of the X-Men movies. They are supremely cool – and Wolverine is HOT!

Holly: I like The Dark Knight, but I’m also fond of My Super EX-girlfriend – especially since it was your inspiration for writing about us, LOL

TLT: what is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

Ellen: Wow – that I do have a hard time with history. It’s not my favorite subject.

Holly: That I really prefer being mortal – honest! Even though I have a super-sister, a super-dad, and now a super-boyfriend, I like to keep my feet firmly on the ground.

TLT: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Ellen: Fly straight through a dam. I couldn’t stop in time. Boy, was I soaked!

Holly: Actually study for an English exam 

TLT: if someone could describe you in one word, what would it be:

Ellen: that’s easy – SUPER

Holly: Normal  Of course, that’s a relative term 

Thanks for letting me interview you, girls!

Ellen: Thank you!

Holly: Yeah, and we hope people will want to read more about us in MY SUPERHERO SISTER! Thanks so much for having us!

Holly Hamilton has always been perturbed by the way her older sister, Ellen, seems to get everything.  It's especially tough living in the shadow of your sister's cape when she's a super heroine named Suprema!

With one super-parent and one not, it was inevitable that the girls would turn out different.  Unfortunately for Holly, she takes after her earthling mother. Ellen has taken over their retired father’s role as Century City's reigning superhero, balancing school and super-duties with remarkable ease while it’s a struggle for Holly to get through her English class without mishap, not to mention those Cheer Squad tryouts!

The girls learn their father’s old nemeses, Anti-Hero, has escaped from his Space Prison, and they’re concerned – Anti-Hero nullified their father’s powers once – what else does he have in store for him and Suprema?  When another teen superhero extraordinaire appears on the scene, they’re even more puzzled.  Who is Magna Boy? Is he friend or foe?  And does he have a connection to Anti-Hero?   The appearance of two  new guys at school, teen heartthrob Tad Barker and nerd Ed McGee, set Holly and her sister to wondering—and arguing—could one of them be the new super kid on the block?  If so, which one?

Working with her friend Mona and her scientist uncle, Holly finally uncovers Anti-Hero’s dastardly plot – he intends to capture Suprema and Magna Boy and siphon their powers for himself!   Before she can warn her sibling, however, Anti-Hero strikes and captures the superheroes.  Now it’s up to Holly to use her ingenuity and prove to everyone, but most of all herself, that you don’t’ have to be a superhero for good to win out over evil…or to nab a super-boyfriend, either!

Find out more about Ellen, Holly and more of Toni LoTempio’s writing at her website: www.tonilotempioauthor.webs.com – her cat’s blog – www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com

And friend her and the girls on Facebook!

Giveaway:

2 winners will each receive an e-book copy of MY SUPERHERO SISTER (Smashwords coupon). Just leave a comment with your favourite Superhero! Don't forget to leave your email.

Ends 17/4/2011

Optional Extra Entries:

+1 follow the blog catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com

+1 Leave a comment on the blog

+1 Tweet about this giveaway

+1 Friend Toni on Facebook.

(Please leave links so I can Check! Thanks)

Review: Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler

Product Details

• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: Sid Harta Publishers (January 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1921829699
• ISBN-13: 978-1921829697

Purchase Information

Amazon

Kobo

The first few days of year 12 are disastrous for school captain Daisy Brooks. But Daisy’s life takes a sudden turn when she is dared by Skye, the leader of the Blonde Brigade, to meet the mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous stranger, Nate, from rival school Addison Grammar. Daisy’s instant attraction to him disrupts her world. But what about her best friend Roman? How will he respond to this intruder? Daisy is a vulnerable, yet fiery girl going through the chaotic phase between teenage and adulthood. She is about to discover the complexities of relationships, the etiquette of friendship and, most of all, her development as a woman. Is it too late for Daisy to realize that the choices she makes shapes who she is and who she will become?





Friendship on Fire is a story about that awkward in between stage of no longer being a child/teenager, yet not quite an adult either. It’s about growing up and finding who we are and Daisy is doing just that. She’s in her final year of high school and is navigating its treacherous waters. Her story is real, it feels like you’re there, that this your story. Daisy is such a believable character, and her relationships with her family and friends help make FoF such a great story. I enjoyed her strength and uncertainty and the way she handled herself. Of course, she could have dealt with some things better than she did, but that is part of growing up. She has a quick temper, but is mature enough to realize when she needs to apologize. She learns some hard lessons about the intricacy’s of new relationships and the preservation of friendships.


Friendship on Fire brings back memories, or gives you an understanding of that time in your life when you have the world at your feet but aren’t quite sure where you’re going to place them next.  

I give it 3/5.

Thanks to the author who provided me with a copy of her book.

You can also win a signed copy of Friendship on Fire by clicking here.

Guest Post by Danielle Weiler & Giveaway.

Why I write YA novels/Why I write for teens?

I write contemporary young adult novels because it comes most naturally to me, like some kind of innate instinct. The thought of having to write anything else (like fantasy, romance, Kindy books) is foreign and scary. The fact of the matter is, for the most part, I remember everything about being a teenager, and, really, the teenager in me is still there, not so much lurking or watching from a distance, nor hiding or suppressed. It is in the very core and essence of me, only changed because I had to grow and develop into the working adult that everyone has to become. In a way, life and responsibilities beat the teenager out of you, but you still have fond memories of the certain sense of freedom you once had. 

The stepping-stones of life are in the moments you can’t seem to forget: embarrassing and awkward conversations, the shifts and changes in friendships and relationships, the development of self through good and bad experiences: that boy/girl you shouldn’t have gone near, that boy/girl you wished you were more like instead of your ‘stupid boring self’ (not my words!), that random job you had to get yourself a bit of money to go to the movies, that stupid thing your parents said in front of your friends/boyfriend/girlfriend/
teacher/neighbour/anyone – you just remember how lame it was, all the hot chips you ate with friends on the beach during endless summers, discussing those big picture issues you thought were so clear-cut at the time but soon realised they weren’t at all and still aren’t.


Teenagers are in the throes of learning the biggest lesson of all: life isn’t simple, it isn’t always black and white. It’s multiple and varied shades of grey. If you mix these shades of grey you might end up getting close to black or white, but in the end, it’s the darkening of themselves around the edges and the ways in which they bend and break that will make young adults more wholesome and refined people; people that others will want to be around and who will contribute greatly to society when given the awesome opportunity.   


I love the unabashed honesty of teenagers, the eyebrow-raising comments said with self-confidence and vulnerability mixed equally.  They are passionate, opinionated, energetic people, and that is why it was easy to write Friendship on Fire. All I had to do was think about what I would have said, or would say, if I was still at that age. In some ways, it was a liberating experience. Teenagers are not only funny, self-deprecating, brave, and resilient, they are also very fascinating and versatile people to write about.


I hope teenagers who read my novel discover themselves a little bit more, and just how interesting they really are, in a grey, unique kind of way.

Danielle Weiler is an innovative history teacher living in Perth, Western Australia. She is inspired every day by teenagers who are trying to find their unique identity in life. A serial diary writer, Danielle attributes much of her writing to having a large family, with five older brothers who endlessly entertain her. She wrote her first story book when she was six years old.
Danielle is credited with being the editor of her university’s magazine as well as being president of her graduating class. Her writing encompasses the modern young adult and the difficulties of growing up in an unapologetic, competitive world. Danielle hopes this book will delight and satisfy the reader’s imagination.
Danielle is attached to a loving husband, who is the funniest and most patient person she’s met. She is owned by a very affectionate ranga cat named Toppy.
Danielle also has a passion for Redskins.

To win a signed copy of Friendship on Fire, just leave a comment with your email, telling me why you like to read YA novels? Giveaway is international  and ends on Sunday 10th April.