K. C. HiltonBesprekingen

1-1.5 stjerner

The fairy tale is great; the premise of the book has potential; the execution is seriously disappointing. The main character is head over heels for her love, sure, she's a teenager. She pines for him for years after he's killed, fine, it was a traumatic experience. But I feel like two centuries later perhaps she should have moved on a bit? Got a hobby? Grown as a person? Instead she still thinks and acts and throws temper tantrums like a teenager, and possibly this is being unfair to teenagers.

I could not rate this book higher as I had a hard time finishing it.

Frequently the writing was implausible or patronizing. The dialogue was often stilted and, with two-dimensional characters, I simply could not connect.

***Originally posted on BUNNYCATES.COM***
For the video review, unboxing video, and giveaay - please see the review post on my site. Thanks.
*****************************************

I love this entire series. I really liked book one, the Magic of Finkleton (read my review here). As much as I liked book one, I LOVED book two!

In book two the kids are a little older, and so is the writing style. It’s almost like Mrs Hilton is letting the kid readers – grow along with the story. Book One was more for say 6 and up with help reading the bigger words. Book Two is like ages 8 and up, no help required. So it’s gone from Childrens book to Middle Grade, if that makes sense. I think it’s fantastic.

The Return to Finkleton is book two in the series, but it is also written well enough that it can be read as a stand alone. If you haven’t read book one, you won’t be lost at all. I love series when they are written this way. Each book is it’s own complete story, which in the end will go together to tell the BIGGER story.

For the series itself, in my mind I can see so many possibilities on where the storylines could go! I mean these kids have their entire lives to live, so much can happen between 8 and 80, you know? I am glad that another book is already in the works. There is a sneak peek of it at the end of RtF , “Saving Finkelton”!

Character wise, each of the three siblings (Robert, Jack, and Lizzie) are very well fleshed out. Their personalities are as defined as their looks, which in my opinion, most childrens books miss the mark on. I love that they are ALL smart, whether it be book smart or “street smart”. Their personalities help to define the family dynamic, and I love that as well. So many books now a days have characters with a strong sense of self. So strong that the sense of “FAMILY” gets lost along the way. Not in Finkleton. In the Finkleton series, “FAMILY” is forefront. We need to see more of that in our childrens literature!

Plot wise, there is nothing I want to tell you that’s not already stated in the synopsis. This story is as much a mystery as it is an adventure. I would hate myself if I thought I “spoiled” the book for anyone! I will say that even though it is the “MAGIC” of Finkleton series, there are no witches or anything like that in it. It’s more a “fairy tale” type magic. Think faerie type magic and you are leading in the right direction. BUT with that said – there are no fae in Finkleton either. Or are there? hmmmmm LOL.

In Conclusion:
I’m a fan of this entire series, and not just because I helped edit the second book! I think it’s fantastic for little ones. This one helps in teaching the lesson of “accountability” and the repercussions of ones actions.

Mom Notes:
Great series! I would say good for age 7 (advanced readers)

Dont miss our EPIC Return to Finkleton Giveaway!

My Name Is Rapunzel, by K.C. Hilton
★, rounding up to 1.5….maybe

Synopsis: (what made it intriguing) My tale has been told again and again, and I’ve heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children…but the children wouldn’t have laughed if they’d known the real story. It wasn't their fault. They didn't know the truth. Nobody did. My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.
(what it is really) Rapunzel gets cursed with eternal youth by the witch who wants her hair for a youth potion (oh, btw, the witch turns out to be her grandmother). Apparently Rapunzel’s maternal side of the family is gifted with long life and beauty, and it’s in Rapunzel’s hair, which she can’t cut off (huh?). The witch also curses Rapunzel’s fiancé Henry, turning him into a dragon, but Rapunzel thinks he’s dead, and the dragon is the witch’s pet or something.
When her parents die of old age, she moves into her father’s inherited castle with the witch (that part doesn’t make sense, I know), and they live there together for 200 years, with the dragon/Henry preventing them from leaving (oh, and Henry can sometimes turn back into a human, but if he sees Rapunzel’s face he turns back into the dragon. Why it takes him 250 years to tell her who he really is, I don’t know).
Oh, and there’s a love triangle in the last 50 pages. There’s some newspaper reporter guy who didn’t believe Rapunzel’s story at first, but then fell in love with her. It all climaxes in the last 15 pages with the witch getting shot and killed by an old guy who has been taking the long-life potion given to his family by the witch (apparently she was in love with his father? Huh?). the reporter guy gets the dying witch to take the curse off Henry and Rapunzel and he gets turned into a dragon instead, which, coincidentally, is what he always wanted. Everyone lives happily ever after. Yeah. ‘K.
In A Sentence: An interesting story idea, really, really poor execution
My Thoughts: I read this for an online book group I joined; it was the first book they were going to read this month, and was curious about the book. I mean the synopsis sounds like an interesting YA novel, right? Not!
I was really intrigued by the story concept; seriously, what a great idea! But the execution of the story was horrible! There were huge plot holes, an absurd amount of contradictions and geographical inaccuracies (the author’s clearly American, and the setting is supposed to be in Europe), a vague, sometimes rushed plot, poor grammar, awful use of language (18th century maidens do not say “okay”, okay?), and, I kid you not, the author copied and pasted whole chapters when the story was coming around full circle. I couldn’t stop cringing when I read this! This was a book that could have been so much better had the author spent more time re-reading and revising her work. She could have fleshed out the details a bit more, fixed some inaccuracies and mistakes, made sure there was some nice flow, etc. But no, she didn’t.
Apparently this author self-published her book, and apparently this is not her first book. While I admire authors who have the courage to self-publish their works, I am suspicious of the quality of those works, because that could mean that the book didn’t hold up under the scrutiny of a recognized book publisher. I wish this author pursued some publishers before publishing it herself; even if they wouldn’t accept it, they would have given her plenty of reasons why, and she could have used that criticism to go back and revise her story. The story would have done so much better under the scrutiny of a critical editor, not the author’s friends.
So why did I bother finishing this book? Because despite the poor execution, I still wanted to know what happened next. I’ll give the author that much; she does keep you chained to the book.
Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this read (surprise, surprise). It had so much potential, and it just fell way short of the mark.
And now my rant is done. My apologies to those who liked this book, but clearly our tastes are different.

2.5-3 STARS

Rapunzel, a story that I’ve read so many time over the years and still read it to my little brother and sister, and my curiosity was the cause that I’ve read this book.

And let me tell you…. I’m not impressed, nah-euh….
The book was soooo dragging and boring that I had to force myself to finish it, fairy tales are rewritten they should have some major changes and twists that keeps us really focused on the story, but this one was 42 pages of excitement and 280 pages of boredom .

You must ask yourself why i gave the book an almost 3 STARS, well, 2 STARS are for Rapunzel I just love her from young age, and the other half-one STAR is actually what happened at the end with Edwin and Luke, yeah that part left my jaw flat on the floor, I DID not expect THAT !

If you read the book you’ll understand what I’m saying.

My tale has been told again and again, and I’ve heard each one. Except for my hair, I barely recognize the pitiful renditions. Muddled versions, crafted to entertain laughing children…but the children wouldn’t have laughed if they’d known the real story. It wasn't their fault. They didn't know the truth. Nobody did.

My name is Rapunzel. I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.

Le sigh... A gorgeous cover and a strong description convinced me to check out My Name Is Rapunzel. How fun, to imagine the real Rapunzel, alive all these years, forced to endure everyone else's version of her life.

Unfortunately the writing did not deliver the story promised in the blurb. I could sense what Hilton intended Rapunzel to be and where she wanted to take readers; however, the book needed an experienced editor and at least two more revisions to fully develop those intentions. I'm not referring to copy edits - there was only a few typos, grammatical errors, etc.; I'm referring to story structure, plot and characterization. Twice, entire passages were repeated within less than 50-100 pages of the original text, not to mention the use of the same sentence or phrase multiple times. Lastly, 95% of the story was told, not shown; I wanted to see Rapunzel, feel the loss of Rapunzel's parents, hear the roar of the dragon or Gretta's cackle, smell the familiar scent of Henry.

I would not recommend My Name Is Rapunzel unless it underwent a serious edit and hardcore revisions.

2.5 stars

Disclaimer: In all fairness, it was only four months ago that I read another "true story" of Rapunzel, Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth, which was historical fiction by an excellent storyteller.½

I was a part of a "street team" asked to read this ARC for my thoughts, comments, and for a review. I am so glad that I was able to participate in this capacity as this was a very enjoyable read! I look forward to receiving my copy of the edited and corrected version because this is definitely a keeper to be reread.

Initially, I was drawn in by the cover and the name Rapunzel, but became hooked by the "back cover summary". Purposefully, I kept myself from "brushing up" on the various versions of Rapunzel's story to keep my mind free of other people's versions, including that of the Brothers Grimm.

I am an easy target for YA romance because I like to be moved by the characters' and my hearts -- slowing down a relationship to enjoy and appreciate the getting-to-know one another stage and the thrill of the first kiss. This has it -- the love to last a lifetime (actually MANY lifetimes) and unswerving devotion to that love.

KC Hilton has a great story and a great layout for unveiling that story to the reader. The story feels a bit short (355 pages of double spaced text as the "working copy"), but that is a good criticism as I wanted the story to continue.

As this was an uncorrected ARC small typos and like issues were noted and passed on, but I have two other comments that are more meaningful that I hope Ms. Hilton and her editors address. First, the dialogue of Rapunzel and the other characters in 1763, when we enter the story, through at least 1813, is not consistent with the time period. The dialogue is somewhat questionable in the 1913-1922 time frame with Luke as to whether words/phrases match the era.

The second item is the frequent flashbacks. Once Rapunzel reads Mr. John Jenkins articles in the 2013 newspaper, she flashes back to various moments of her memories of the last 250. I frequently had to reread closely to calculate where in her history Rapunzel was speaking. Edwin in the wheelchair, I thought was in 2013, but by the end (more than half a book later) I realized I was wrong. Having to sort out the time took me out of my "trance" of the story.

I recommend this book to all who like YA romance and to anyone with an interest in learning Rapunzel's true story.

When the Finkles’ house burns down and their Uncle Harry dies, it seems fat is driving them to move to Finkleton. Ever since their Uncle’s death, however, weather has been acting abnormally weird for Finkleton. The three siblings, Jack, Robert, and Lizzy, discover that Finkleton has an some kind of magical control over their weather and their uncle’s hourglasses and levers inside the store somehow control it. If the trio don’t figure out how to control the weather, Mr. Lowsley, a mysterious guy who seems to want power, is going to weasel his way into Finkleton. Can the Finkle children figure out a way to fix the weather before it’s too late?

The character dialogues feel forced, but the character are fairly likable and engaging. The plot is a little slow, but the mystery is engaging. Readers who enjoy fantasy, adventure, mystery, and magic will enjoying reading this book.½

If you follow me , then you know how much of a sucker I am for fairy tales. When I was little, I had tons of books where princess were rescued by their prince charming. And of course, I daydreamed a lot of having my own prince charming one day. So when I heard about this book, you know I was on it like white on rice!

Plot: This plot is pretty standard following the lines of the original tale with a few twists here and there. I can tell you that right from the start the plot is intriguing. Rapunzel is tricked and lured into many false words. She is naive and young, only wanting what every young maiden wants. A long, lasting romance. I particular enjoyed the fact that this tale goes back and forth from past to present. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would like it told this way, but it did flow well so I went on reading. Every jump into the past leads to important twists in the future.

Love/Friendship: Through out Rapunzel life she has befriend many friends and has come to like guys. Though her relationships never last long, I adore how strong she is. Her love for her first love is never wavering, giving her strength to move on. She holds on to what she knows, her family and true friends and that gives Rapunzel amazing strength to fight back. She does make a few friends who in turn help her along the way. They all want to make sure she gets her fairy-tale ending.

Ending: After so many years, things finally came to an end. The ending has a great rectification for Rapunzel. Things are finally set in place for her. Even if it does come at a price, I think over all Rapunzel deserves it.

If you ask me, this is a great re-tale of the classic. It doesn’t loose the classical feel but it gives the story much more depth that any reader can enjoy. A thrilling adventure with rich characters and a exiting plot line, My Name Is Rapunzel is wonderful.

A family gets bound up with bad guys by smuggling Cuban immigrants to Florida.

the story was different. the language was perfect for younger readers. simple yet I couldn't wait to finish it. great read.

Living with their Great Uncle Harry and helping in his shop, Robert, Lizzy, and Jack has discovered some magical secrets. In the first book Magic of Finkleton, the trio was able to stop their nemesis, Mr. Lowsley’s dastardly plot to try and force people into selling their house to him by fixing the lever under the counter of their uncle’s shop. That lever controlled the rain in Finkleton. Now, a new lever has appeared. When Robert discovers a secret room under his uncle’s study, he also discovers a lever that creates lightning in Finkleton. When he pulls the lever, he finds out that Miss Caroline, a friend of the family’s, house has burned down. To make matters worse, the hourglasses in the shop, that somehow help to control the weather, malfunction and Robert accidentally blurts the problem out to his uncle in front of Mr. Lowsley. Now Mr. Lowsley is threatening Robert and his family if Robert doesn’t tell the magical secret of Finkleton. Thinking that he can get past all of the bad things and prevent himself from betraying his family, Robert messes with a clock in his uncle’s study that’s supposed to go forward or backward. Unfortunately, he not only winds the clock forward, but manages to break just as he gets 25 years into the future. Can Robert figure out a way to fix the clock, save Finkleton from Mr. Lowsley, and fix the problem he created?
A delightful, time travel fantasy. The characters are likable and realistic. The plot is well-developed, well-paced, and entertaining. Readers who have read the first book in the series will have an easier time following this book, but it can be read without having read the first one. Fans of fantasy, adventure, time travel, and magic will enjoying reading this book.½

(Sent a copy for review by author)

A great thought-provoking novel, K.C. Hilton’s “90 Miles to Freedom” will take you on an emotional journey and bring out many emotions from beginning to end! There were many parts in this novel that I felt were genuine. The parents, or George and Betty, were such pleasant characters and really gave off that “loving couple” vibe. This novel was a very fast read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! :]

Review originally posted at RJ Does Books

How is it that I'm only hearing of this now?! :D Can't wait!!

Who controls time? In this, the second Finkleton book, the magic begins with a new secret uncovered. Robert finds out the hard way, first playing with the old clock, spinning the hour hand, and then by breaking it. How did he become 35 years old? He's supposed to be 10 years old. This isn't right! And how will he fix the clock and return to normal, is it even possible? How time flies! Robert is shocked to discover his sister and brother have also aged by 25 years.

We travel around Finkleton and discover everything has changed, and not for the better. Teamwork is needed to return Finkleton to its wondrous and happy days of wonderful weather, just the right weather to produce the best crops in the world, and to restore Miss Caroline's house, which was destroyed by lightning. As the Finkle children discovered in the first book, they must not keep secrets from each other and they must trust each other to work as a team. Otherwise, a serious mistake can leave disaster in its wake, and that is exactly what they now face together.

The children, adults through a large portion of this book, must find a way to turn back the clock. Together they are able to fix the clock but there are more secrets to be learned. At least they have learned that the "bad" man, Mr. Lowsley, has not been giving them trouble over the past 25 years. Finding the new secret room with even more books, even the books are magical. But who are the two young men Robert saw who look so familiar? And, what exactly does Miss Caroline know and why? Are there really fairies? Ah, this question must wait for another episode of life in the magic town of Finkleton. Another wonderful tale for young people, with life lessons hidden in the adventures. Recommended for ages 9-12, I find it an enjoyable series for any age, perhaps some memories of the childhood left behind. Another winner for KC Hilton.

Returned me to the magic of childhood!

This book, though written for children, can encompass all ages in the way of fairy tales of yore. A magical time when things are not what they seem. Well-written to keep anticipation coming, and flows with mystery and curiosity. An old shopkeeper dies and the village farms of Finkleton are instantly inundated with rain. At the same time a home in another village is struck by lightning and burned. What is happening with the weather?

The home that was destroyed happened to belong to the heir to the old shopkeeper's store and property, and therein lies this delicious story. The displaced family of five arrive in Finkleton and very soon the youngest child makes a mysterious discovery. He keeps it secret but before long his sister, who reads everything readable, learns the secret. But when the weather gets out of control, they must let their older brother know what is happening. Should they tell their parents what they have found? Are there more secrets hidden in the old shop? Is Mother Nature really in charge of the weather?

KC Hilton creates an entire world, not on a different planet, not even in an enchanted forest. No, this is a village surrounded by farms, some very famous and lush farms, in fact the most productive farms and best-tasting produce in the world. But even in such a perfect location, danger can rear its ugly head. I was charmed by this magical adventure and I can tell the next will be exciting, too.

In this sequel to The Magic of Finkleton, taking place two years later, the Finkle children, Jack, Lizzy, and Robert have adjusted to living in the town of Finkleton. The family is still running their late uncle’s shop, in which the children discover a secret room full of mysterious books. Robert sneaks into the room and pulls a magical lever that causes lighting to strike a nearby home. Feeling guilty, Robert is determined to change his mistake, and with the help a magical clock, he might be able to do so. First, he accidentally travels to the future, where he sees the outcome of his actions.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and eagerly waited for the second book to be released. I read the book in one sitting! Just like the original, the sequel has a dazzling cover but this time with a magical clock. The sequel focuses more on the youngest child Robert as he travels through time to undo a fire that he caused. My favorite character still has to be Lizzy, as she and I have a love for books. This time around, we meet some new characters and get to explore some of the other shops in Finkleton. Mr. Lowsley returns as the villain, even more determined to find out what or who is responsible for the magical occurrences in Finkleton. KC Hilton has once again created a wonderfully original fantasy that both children and adults will love. I like how the author leaves a few unanswered questions for the reader to think about. Who is Mrs. Caroline? Luckily we don‘t have to wait long because we get a sneak peak at the third book Saving Finkleton, in which I cannot wait to read, in the back of the book. I recommend the book to everyone!

When I saw this book's gorgeous cover and read the glowing reviews, I got this book for my kids so we could discover along with the Finkle kids the secrets they stumble upon in Finkleton. After reading the synopsis to my daughter she told me outright that it sounded very predictable. She didn't seem excited as I was to read it along with me. Nonetheless, I snuggled with my kids on the bed and began reading. The first chapter was promising but by the third chapter, my son told me there was too much dialogue and not enough action.

Both my kids were right.

From then on we struggled through it. My son lost total interest and my daughter and I were bored. The story had an interesting premise about a family who inherited their Uncle Harry's shop and moved to Finkleton, where they discover magical hidden secrets in the shop. The setting is England but the time is unclear leaving us to guess that it took place sometime in the 19th century. I liked this because I envisioned a wholesome story with children who wouldn't be distracted by modern technology but rather would cleverly use their wits to solve the mystery of Finkleton. While the story is wholesome, we did not consider the children witty. Except maybe for Robert, the youngest, who figured things out and took an interest in the hourglasses. But we did like how in the end they came to work together for the good of their town.

The problem was that the story was very slow with not much suspense. The excessive dialogue was irritating because it did nothing to move the plot forward. Each chapter could have been easily cut in half. Too much telling and not enough showing. An editor would have caught this and helped to polish the text.

We really wanted to like this book but in the end, my daughter and I didn't care for any of the children (Jack 14, Lizzy 12 and Robert 8) who bickered like preschoolers and cried often. All the children acted younger than their age. My daughter remarked that Lizzy seemed more like a 7 year-old in her behaviour. I could see that she couldn't relate to her. Moreover, character development was lacking as well as the magical wonder we were expecting. Even Mr. Lowsley, the antagonist (if we could call him that) was quite tame.

This book might work for a young audience but savvy middle-graders who are used to action and adventure and meatier plots... well they might just roll their eyeballs and move on. But that's only our family's opinion. Sometimes tame and predictable is good too.

**Originally posted on my site BUNNYCATES.COM **My Thoughts: I was sent a copy of this book from the author. She, like us, is from Kentucky so I couldn’t wait for it to show up! I think I was more excited about it coming then Sis was! Can I just take a moment to comment on the cover art. GORGEOUS! Sis (age 10) and I read this one as a “read together” book. Each night, each of us would read a chapter aloud. I really enjoyed it. It was great mommy/daughter time, and the story was fun and different. From a mom’s perspective, I thought the book was great. I kept thinking The Magic of Finkleton would be an easy way to introduce the topic of a death (which is really a hard topic to introduce to younger ones). In the very beginning Uncle Harry passes away, and the family have to move to take over his store. The story touches on their loss of the Uncle, and throughout the book the continually talk in remembrance of him. I know I am “reading” a lot into it, but I thought that having them talk about Uncle Harry, etc. Shows younger kids, that may well have not had to deal with “death” yet, that it’s ok. People die, that happens. It’s ok to miss them, and ok to go on remembering them. I just thought it was a wonderful piece of the story.The mysteries kept me (the adult) reading and entertained. I couldn’t wait to find out “what” was going on. =D I enjoyed the kids mouthiness, and then how their secrets bind them as they try to solve the mysteries! Sis and I literally laughed out loud at the kids bantering back and forth at each other. “She’s not a LADY”… LOLMy favorite character in this book has to be lil Lizzy and her love for books. She has a smart mouth and a love for words. That child could definitely have been born to this house. LOLIn the end, I say this is a great book. Would be great for kids say 6 (with help reading). I enjoyed this one, and Sis’s review of it will be up later this week if you’d like to see her take on the story.

Their house burning down left few choices for the Finkle family. Taking over their recently deceased Uncle Harry’s general store in Finkleton was their only option. Arriving in the small England village after hearing father’s stories of Uncle Harry and his store, each of the three children were intrigued just enough to be looking forward to exploring everything. After a modicum of unpacking, they all wanted to look at the store and the house, Jack was the oldest and was looking forward to learning more of the workings of the store and finding the office in disarray, organizing was his first priority. The middle child and only girl was an avid reader and since the fire had consumed her store of books, she was only interested in the promised room of books. Once there, she quickly figured out how they were organized and selected her first nights reading material with the promise to return for them all at some point. As the youngest, Richard was trying to find his own place when he found something much more interesting. The lever under the counter seemed to control the rain. Astonished at his find, Richard wanted this to be his secret from everyone, but as the consequences started making themselves clear, her realized he needed hop to make sure Mr. Bad Guy never found out the true secrets of the success of Finkleton.

What an adorable story. Some of the dialogue and wording felt a bit awkward at times, but I was hooked from the start and simply enjoyed it all the way to the end. While it was set approximately 100 or so years ago, this is one of those timeless fantasies. Simply adored all the children even with their sibling rivalry and teasing. This would be a fun book to read with younger kids (5-8) or to let older kids (8 and up) read on their own. It makes for a wonderful story, creative with some great characters, truly a story for all ages.

After their house is mysteriously burnt, the Finkles learn that their Uncle Harry had died the exact same night, and he left all his belongings to them, including his general store. The Finkles pack up what didn’t burn in the fire and move to Finkleton to start a new life. The three children are Jack, Lizzy, and Robert, who are all uniquely different from another. Jack is the oldest and thinks he is the brightest. He enjoys numbers and organizing things. Lizzy is the bookworm of the family, and Robert is the youngest.

The family moves into the apartment above of the general store. Lizzy is sad that all of her books were burnt in the fire, but instantly became happy when her father told her that Uncle Harry had a library in a secret room in the store. Most of the books are non-fiction, and Lizzy wants to read them all. Robert investigates the store and finds a strange room filled with hourglasses that are labeled and has a string attached to each of them, but one of the strings was broken.

The family reopens the store, with a few customers complaining about all the rain because Finkleton use to have the perfect weather for farming. A stranger named Mr. Lowsley shows up several times asking about land he could buy. Robert doesn’t like this man, and believes that he is up to no good.

Then, Robert pulls on a wood lever hidden in the store and the rain suddenly stops. Did Uncle Harry control the weather in Finkleton? Why does Mr. Lowsly want to buy land in Finkleton?

When I received this book in the mail, my first thought was “This is a dazzling cover.” After reading the page and a half prologue, I was hooked into the world of Finkleton. It was a nice change to read an original book that doesn’t involve vampires and werewolves. I got a kick out of the kids bickering back and forth in the beginning of the book and enjoyed it when they started to work together to solve the mystery of Uncle Harry’s store. The Magic of Finkleton is a great read for both children and adults!