Are you a fan of all things Disney?  Do you spend hours daydreaming about a magical place where dreams really do come true?  if the answer is yes, then I would bet that you would be a fan of Ridley Pearson’s Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow.

In this third installment of the Kingdom Keepers Series, we are reunited with the Kingdom Keepers, a group of teenagers who are fighting the Overtakers, a group of malicious Disney characters, bent on taking over not only the Disney theme parks, but the whole world.

As we join the Kingdom Keepers, we discover that Wayne, the imagineer responsible for creating many of the Disney landmark attractions and creator of the Kingdom Keepers, is missing.   And not only does the team need to find Wayne, but there is something major happening over at EPCOT, and the team needs to figure out what the Overtakers are up to, and how to defeat them!

The most fascinating aspect of the Kingdom Keepers series, and Disney in Shadow is no exception, is that Ridley Pearson is given unlimited access to the Disney parks.  And that give this series facts and information that normal Disney fans cannot experience.  And he weaves those facts into each book so that the reader gets to experience Disney in a new and exciting way.

Even though Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow is categorized and a “young readers” book, I find them exciting and very enjoyable to read.  They are great books to take your mind off your daily routine AND they give you the sense of being on an incredible adventure throughout Disney World, after dark, and in the shadows!

Having never read an Agatha Christie book before, I can now say that I am a fan of her writing.  What made me a fan? The Man in the Brown Suit.  It’s a great book, full of mystery and intrigue, with a VERY surprising twist ending.

In The Man in the Brown Suit, we meet Anne Beddingfeld, the daughter of Professor Beddingfeld, England’s foremost authority on Primitive man.  Anne unwittingly gets caught up in a sinister case of murder and intrigue that takes her from England, to the steamship Kilmorgan Castle to the lovely shores of South Africa.

How odd, Anne Beddingfeld thought, that the stranger caught her eye, recoiled in horror, and fell to his death on the rails of Hyde Park Underground Station. Odder still was a doctor in a brown suit who pronounced him dead and vanished into the crowd.

But what really aroused Anne’s suspicion was when she learned of the doctor’s link to the murder of a famous ballerina, a fortune in hidden diamonds, and a crime-lord embroiled in blackmail. And most frightening of all was the attempt made on Anne’s own life.

But she is unable to resist the lure of an isolated mansion that could hold the solution to the bizarre mystery–even if she becomes the next victim…

This is a great mystery book to read, or listen to in audio book form.  It is filled with adventure, intrigue, and romance.  It has also made me an Agatha Christie fan.  You would do yourself a service by reading it as well.

People ask me all the time:  How do I read so many books?  How can I afford it?  How can I fit it into my day?

I read a lot.  I’ve actually been reading more this year, than in years past.  Being unemployed for 10 months will give you all the time you need to read, but in actuality, I don’t read all day.  I read at specific times, for specific amounts of time.  In other words, I schedule my reading times.  I also have a few other tricks.

Some of my ideas are not original, I stole borrowed a couple thoughts from Bob Franquiz.  Bob is the Lead Pastor of Calvary Fellowship in Miami Lakes, FL and a tremendous reader.  His goal for 2009 was 200 books…WOW!  He is also an inspiration for me – and also Bill Hybels, these two guys read A LOT and are great leaders, and I want to be a great leader, so I am following their model.  Leaders are readers!

5 Simple Ways to Read More

1.  Always carry a book with you.

Bob taught me this – you have no idea how much free time you waste standing in line or waiting for a meeting.  And you can get at least 3-4 pages in while you are waiting in line.

2.  Listen as much as you Read.

I always have a book on audio in my car or iPod.  You spend a ton of time in your car driving to work or just around town, you should utilize your time by listening to a book on tape, CD, or MP3.  I would suggest that you use this option for NON-Fiction.  It’s easier to start and stop and you don’t have to track facts or figures.  It also curves your road rage and makes for a better drive.

3.  Visit your local library…often.

I can’t afford to buy all the books I read, and I don’t have a friend who posses all the books I want to read.  The answer: the local library.  They have books, books on tape, books on CD, and it’s also a great way to connect to your local community.  Plus, it’s FREE!

4. Schedule your reading times.

I read during my lunch break (when possible), for about 1 hour in the afternoon, and about 1 hour before I go to sleep.  Sometimes, I take a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and finish a book, but mostly, I HAVE to schedule my reading times.  As busy as these days are, and as important as our time is, you MUST schedule reading time.  It will pay off in the long run.

5.  Subscribe to a Book Summary Service.

If you want to spend time reading, but want ONLY the PRIMARY FACTS, I would suggest that you use a Book Summary Service.  They give you the most important information without all the stories or fluff.

There are very few things in this world that hold my captivation like Walt Disney World.  Quoting from a recent church sermon I heard recently, “God is #1, Sarah-Irene (my wife) is #2,” but I would probably say that after family and friends, Walt Disney World ranks pretty high on my list (in the 4-5 range).

So when author Ridley Pearson penned Kingdom Keepers: Disney At Dark, I was excited to follow the exploits of the Kingdom Keepers, a group of kids recruited to help save the Magic Kingdom.  I listened to every word, because I listened to it on audio book on one of my MANY trips between Tampa and Atlanta.  It was a “kids” book, but following in the path of Harry Potter and Eragon, Kingdom Keepers was a great read/listen for kids AND adults.

When I heard that Pearson was writing another book, I couldn’t wait.  And finally I got my hands on Kingdom Keepers II: Disney At Dawn, and it was just as enjoyable as the first.

What is Kingdom Keepers II: Disney At Dawn about? I thought that I would let the author tell you himself…

What did I think?  I loved it, it was about Disney.  Was it rocket science?  Nope, but that’s not why you read a book like this…you read it to escape, and escape I did.  It was a great story and I cannot wait to explore Animal Kingdom to see all the little hidden secrets revealed in the book.

Sarah read it in a day and a half…which is awesome.  I am so glad that we share the love  of reading and Disney.

It’s not a perfect book, there are some plot holes and a few “scratch your head” moments, but overall, it was a fun, exciting Summer roller-coaster ride.  Well worth your time to read and enjoy!

By the way, Kingdom Keepers III comes out September of 2009, and THIS time, I believe the Kingdom Keepers will be going “Hollywood”!