Top Ten Tuesday: One-Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I Read

May 3, 2022 By 38 Comments


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

I wrote this post a few weeks in advance due to a scheduling issue, so there may be a couple of newer reviews from me on this site that aren’t included in this list. With that being said, here are ten books that I’ve recently read and reviewed here.

 

New Era by Tommy B. Smith

My One-Word Review: Frightening

 

The Chronologist by Ian R. MacLeod

My One-Word Review: Complex

 

When the Time Is Right by Bill Bush

My One-Word Review: Amusing

 

Xenocultivars: Stories of Queer Growth by Isabela Oliveira and Jed Sabin

My One-Word Review: Refreshing

 

Pooch Problems by Christopher Poston

My One-Word Review: Sensible

 

Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero

My One-Word Review: Reassuring

 

The Proud & the Dumb by Bob Freville

My One-Word Review: Sarcastic

 

Carson Crosses Canada Linda Bailey 

My One-Word Review: Perfect

 

Redlocks and the Three Bears by Claudia Rueda

My One-Word Review: Creative

 

The Assumption of Death by David Vernon

My One-Word Review: Uneven

 

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Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Merchandise I’d Love to Own

April 19, 2022 By 50 Comments


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

I’d like to tweak this week’s theme a little bit. While all of these items certainly caught my eye, they were also things I’d happily buy for someone else if they asked for a bookish present and trusted my judgement.

I am not entirely sure what the copyright laws say about posting images of gifts that are being sold by small businesses, so I’ll share links to these Etsy accounts and briefly describe them only with words in this post. In a few cases, I’ll expound on why I chose that item.

1. Death by TBR sweatshirt

2. Bookish Stickers

3. Just One More Chapter tote bag

4. Never Too Many Books tote bag

My city has slowly been phasing out plastic bags. Stores have charged for them for a long time now, and now more of them aren’t offering them at all with each passing year. I’ve learned to always have a reusable bag in my pocket when I go out shopping.

5. I’d Rather Be Reading t-shirt 

6. Butterbeer tea 

7.   Never-EndingTBR zippered pouch

This could hold anything from pencils to makeup to first-aid supplies if, say, you’re going on a camping trip or hike!

8. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy stickers

9. Pumpkin book stack sticker

10. Book beat Toque

A toque is a type of knitted hat that is quite warm and durable. Traditionally, they was made of wool, but there are synthetic options available now for people who are allergic to wool or who prefer not to use it for other reasons. Toques can be knitted by hand or by machines depending on your preference and budget.

I look forward to seeing how all of you have answered this week’s prompt!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Nature-Themed Book Titles

April 5, 2022 By 45 Comments


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Happy spring from everyone at Long and Short Reviews!

I was so excited to finally see this season arrive that I decided to make the freebie post today about nature-themed titles of books that we’ve reviewed here so far in 2022.

What do I mean by the phrase “nature-themed”? Well, the titles will all contain at least one word about rocks, rivers, flowers, or other items you might find in your own garden, at your local park, or in other nature settings.

If anyone who reads this is interested in joining our review team, our Become a Reviewer page contains all of the information you’ll need in order to do that. We have a wonderful group of reviewers already and are always happy to welcome new members aboard.

Without further delay, here are ten nature-themed books we’ve recently reviewed. Their genres will be noted in parentheses.

1. Secrets of a River Swimmer by S.S. Turner (Literary Fiction)

2. Rock of Salvation by M.J. Schiller (Romance)

3. Geo by Topher Allen (Middle Grade Fantasy)

4. Rock It to the Moon by M.J. Schiller (Romance)

5. As the Crow Flies by Damien Boyd (Mystery)

6. Fruiting Bodies by Kemi Ashing-Giwa (Science Fiction)

7. Sparrow by Brian Kindall (Middle Grade Fantasy)

8. The Seekers Garden by Isa Pearl Ritchie (Women’s Fiction)

9. One Jaded Rose by James Byron Books (Contemporary)

10. The Road to Rose Bend by Naima Simone (Romance)

Have you read any of these books? Have you read any books with nature-themed titles in general recently? Come tell us about them!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books On My Spring 2022 TBR

March 15, 2022 By 48 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Here are some of the books I’m looking forward to this spring. If no publication date is listed for a book, that means it has already been released earlier this month!

 

1. Gallant by V.E. Schwab

Why I Want to Read It: Ms. Schwab is a good storyteller.

 

2. Okoye to the People: A Black Panther Novel by Ibi Zoboi

Why I Want to Read It: I really enjoyed “Black Panther” as a film and want to learn more about these characters.

3. The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories: A Collection of Chinese Science Fiction and Fantasy in Translation from a Visionary Team of Female and Nonbinary Creators  by Yu Chen

Why I Want to Read It: I haven’t read much Chinese science fiction and would like to change that.

 

4. Wild and Wicked Things by Fran Dorricott

Publication Date: March 29

Why I Want to Read It: I wasn’t immediately sure which classic novel this retelling was about. When combined with how many different themes were mentioned in the blurb, I was intrigued! Yes, I’m being a little vague with this reply on purpose. It’s better if you figure out certain things for yourselves.

 

5. Four Aunties and a Wedding (Aunties, #2) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Publication Date: March 29

Why I Want to Read It: The first book in this series is still on my TBR. Maybe knowing that the sequel will be released soon will convince me to begin this series?

6. Gone Dark by Amanda Panitch

Publication Date: April 12

Why I Want to Read It: The comparison to the classic young adult novel “Hatchet” in the blurb piqued my interest.

 

7. Mutinous Women: How French Convicts Became Founding Mothers of the Gulf Coast by Joan DeJean

Publication Date: April 19

Why I Want to Read It: This is a piece of American history I know nothing about!

8.History Comics: The Stonewall Riots: Making a Stand for LGBTQ Rights by Archie Bongiovanni

Publication Date: May 3

Why I Want to Read It: I would have loved to read this when I was a teenager. Luckily, adults can still read young adult books.

9. The Foundling by Ann Leary

Publication Date: May 31

Why I Want to Read It: I am well-versed on the history of how orphaned, abandoned, and unwanted children were treated, especially if they were unlucky enough to be sent to an orphanage or workhouse.  It will be interesting to see how knowledgeable the author is on this subject. My hope is that she will do an excellent job exploring this topic from many different angles.

10. Private Label by Kelly Yang

Publication Date: May 31

Why I Want to Read It: Spring is the perfect time to read a romance novel.

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Top Ten Tuesday: Dynamic Duos

February 22, 2022 By 45 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

 

Isn’t it wonderful that there are so many books out there featuring dynamic duos? Here are ten of them that I still need to read.

1. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

2. I Am David by Anne Holm

3. The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1) by Scott Lynch

4. Beholder’s Eye (Web Shifters, #1) by Julie E. Czerneda

5. Binti (Binti, #1) by Nnedi Okorafor

6. Ludo and the Star Horse by Mary Stewart

7. The Boy Who Lost Fairyland (Fairyland, #4) by Catherynne M. Valente

8. Dreamer’s Pool (Blackthorn & Grim, #1) by Juliet Marillier

9. Truthwitch (The Witchlands, #1) by Susan Dennard

10. Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNab

 

If you’ve read any of these books, what did you think of them?

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Top Ten Tuesday: Books with Character Names In the Titles

February 1, 2022 By 42 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

I tried to pick characters from a wide variety of genres and eras for this week’s prompt.

 

1. Sula by Toni Morrison

2. Mort (Discworld, #4) by Terry Pratchett

3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

4. Oryx and Crake (MaddAddam, #1) by Margaret Atwood

5. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

6. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

7. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

8. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

9. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

10. Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1) by Eoin Colfer

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Top Ten Tuesday: 2021 Releases I Was Excited to Read But Didn’t Get To

January 18, 2022 By 64 Comments

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Here are ten books I was excited to read last year but never ended up reading. Maybe 2022 will be the year I finally give them all a try? If you’ve read them, tell me what you thought of them!

1. Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

 

2. The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris

 

3. 1. The Bennet Women by Eden Appiah-Kubi 

 

4. A Lot Like Adios  by Alexis Daria

 

5. Ophie’s Ghosts  by Justina Ireland
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6. Seeing Ghosts: A Memoir by Kat Chow

 

7. Hello (From Here) by Chandler Baker

 

8. Jade Fire Gold by June C.L. Tan

 

9. Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura

 

10.This Poison Heart (This Poison Heart, #1) by Kalynn Bayron

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Winter Blogfest: Maggie King

December 31, 2021 By 6 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a print copy of MURDER BY THE GLASS: COCKTAIL MYSTERIES, an anthology of cocktail-themed mysteries. US only.

Turkey Chili: A New Year’s Day Tradition

Black-eyed peas are a favorite New Year’s Day tradition for millions who believe eating the legume will lead to prosperity in the coming year. I haven’t heard that chili has the same mystical power to bring good luck, but, as I have yet to develop a taste for black-eyed peas, I’ll call chili my good luck charm.

Chili was a New Year’s Day tradition in my childhood home—a huge pot of it. I hated the stuff, hated the aroma of it as it simmered on the stove and lingered in the air for hours.

But I’m all grown up now and chili is one of my favorite dishes. The sweet, pungent aroma that fills my house each year on January 1 gives me great pleasure. Yes, chili remains a New Year’s Day tradition for my family—but with my own recipe: turkey chili with black beans.

This recipe is perfect for cold winter evenings, although I fix it year round. Feel free to vary the ingredients according to your taste and what you have on hand. I prefer turkey, but have used ground beef and bison. The multi-colored peppers create a pretty dish, but you can certainly use one color. In lieu of tarragon vinegar(who has that on hand?), I add a pinch of dried tarragon to ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar.

The recipe is courtesy of the Gourmet Gazelle Cookbook by Ellen Brown. It never disappoints.

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 onion, peeled and chopped

3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

1 red bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, diced

1 green bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, diced

1 ½ pounds turkey breast, coarsely ground

2 tbsp. flour

3 tbsp. chili powder

2 tbsp. ground cumin

2 tsp. powdered cocoa

1-2 tsp. cayenne pepper

¼ cup tarragon vinegar

2 tbsp. strong brewed coffee

1 28 oz. cans plum tomatoes, crushed

¼ tsp. salt

2 cups cooked black beans

Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a Dutch oven or deep skillet. Add onion, garlic, and bell peppers; sauté, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Add the ground turkey and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring constantly and breaking up any lumps with the spoon.  

Stir in the flour, chili powder, cumin, and cocoa. Stir frequently over low heat for 3 minutes to cook the spices. Add remaining ingredients except black beans and bring to a boil over medium heat.

Simmer chili, stirring occasionally, for 40-45 minutes until thick and the turkey is tender (If using slow cooker, cook on low for 4 hours). Add black beans and cook for 5 additional minutes.

***

Do you celebrate New Year’s with a special dish? Tell us about it in the comments.

May 2022 be a happy and prosperous year for you—whatever you eat on Day 1!

 

He who laughs last, laughs longest.

Unless he’s dead.

When romance author Hazel Rose is dropped by her publisher, she sees herself
heading down a path strewn with has-been authors. While disappointed, Hazel won’t give up without a fight—she signs up for a mystery-writing class, thinking that crime fiction will jumpstart her career.

But what’s a mystery-writing class without a mystery? So when Randy Zimmerman, an obnoxious classmate given to laughing at others’ expense, is murdered, Hazel tackles the case. Solving a real-life murder will surely lend authenticity to her creative writing.

She recruits her book group pals to help with the investigation. Trouble is, there are more suspects than they bargained for—even Hazel herself, who endured Randy’s thumbs-way-down review of her writing, had a motive.

A second body drives the stakes higher, and Hazel doubles her efforts to find who’s behind the murders, unearthing secrets that a killer would go to any lengths to keep hidden.

Will Hazel succeed? Or will this be “The End” for her?

Maggie King is the author of the Hazel Rose Book Group mysteries. Her short stories appear in various anthologies, including the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, Murder by the Glass, and Death by Cupcake.

She is a member of James River Writers, International Thriller Writers, Short Mystery Fiction Society, and is a founding member of Sisters in Crime Central Virginia, where she manages the chapter’s Instagram account.

Maggie graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Business Administration, and has worked as a software developer and a retail sales manager. She has called New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California home. These days she lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and two indulged cats. When Maggie isn’t writing she enjoys reading, walking, cooking, traveling, movies, British TV shows, and the theatre.

Website | Facebook

Buy the book at Amazon.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense Tagged With: , ,

Winter Blogfest: Diane Bator

December 31, 2021 By 9 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of All That Shines .

31 Holidays Hath December by Diane Bator

Some years the holiday season can become overwhelming and drag people down more than uplift them. In the spirit of keeping things fun and adventurous, if you decide not to celebrate in the usual fashion this year, here is a list of worthy celebrations that occur in December whichmay spark your playful side. Seriously! Everything from Eat a Red Apple Day on December 1 to Cabernet Franc Day and National Cookie Day on December 4. My favorite has to be December 5th’s National Comfort Food Day, which encompasses so many great foods we all love to noshand Microwave Oven Day December 6. Finally! A day to worship that appliance many of us could not do without.

For the readers and writers in the crowd, December 10 heralds Dewey Decimal System Day. If you don’t know what that is, you’re much younger than me! December 12 is Gingerbread House and Poinsettia Day. Then comes another one of my favorites:  Hot Cocoa Day and Popcorn String Day on December 13. Oh, and be sure not to miss Chocolate-covered Anything Day on December 16!

The week before Christmas, we have Go Caroling Day and National Sangria Day on December 20. Those two sound like a fun pairing. December 21 is Don’t Make Your Bed Day and National Flashlight Day. I sense a blanket fort celebration along with fast food for National Hamburger Day. On, December 22, we have National Mathematics Day. No comment.

December 23 brings the Night of the Radishes. That one sounds like a horror movie and scares me a little but leads into December 24, otherwise known as Christmas Eve or National Eggnog Day. Christians all around the world celebrate Christmas on December 25, but it is also National Pumpkin Pie Day somewhere and the start of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

While to some regions, December 26 is Boxing Day, it is also National Candy Cane Day. Another favorite for me is December 27, or Make Cut-out Snowflakes Day, which is paired with Wine Blessing Day. Another holiday I can get behind!

December 28, aka National Chocolate Candy Day, and 29 bring a couple of days I’m not as fond of:  Eat Vegetarian Day and National Get on the Scales Day. Um…not during the holidays, please! Bacon Day and National Bicarbonate of Soda Day share December 30 while December 31 wraps up the year with National Champagne Day, New Year’s Eve, and Hogmanay Day.

Hogmanay Day? I had to look that one up just because the word is so much fun. Hogmanay, “Moon of the Hag,” is celebrated in Scotland as the last day of the year. Celebrations continue into the New Year with gift-giving and visiting with friends and neighbors.

Find out more about fun monthly celebrations at:  https://web-holidays.com/holiday-calendar/

Happy Holidays!

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All That Shines (March 2021)
Sage Miller is knee deep in fashion designers—whether she wants them in her new vintage boutique or not.
One winds up dead.
Another isn’t what he seems.
A third is treasure hunting.
Sage is stuck in the middle trying to solve a murder before the grand opening of Vintage Sage, which involves a fashion show she’d rather not be part of.

Diane Bator is the author of several mystery novels, a coach-in-training, and a budding playwright. She’s a member of many mystery and writing groups. When she’s not writing, she works in a professional theatre that will one day be subject to immortality in a mystery series.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Buy the book at Books2Read.

 

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Mystery/Suspense Tagged With: , ,

Winter Blogfest: Dan Rice

December 31, 2021 By 3 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of the book..

Celebrating Chinese New Year

        During the holidays, Allison Lee, the protagonist in Dragons Walk Among Us, and her friends are held hostage in a remote warehouse. So naturally, Christmas, New Year’s, and any other holiday aren’t on their minds. All they want is to escape the darn warehouse. But how might Allison Lee celebrate the winter season if the opportunity arises? I imagine she’d celebrate the holidays much like my sons do, who are biracial like her.

            Like many young children, my boys love the holidays. Christmas is a favorite because they love receiving toys, but we tend to keep the presents beneath the tree sparse. You see, in my wife’s homeland, Christmas isn’t traditionally celebrated. This has been told to the lads many times, which inevitably raises questions about Santa Claus. Doesn’t Santa bring toys to children the world over? Yes, we reply, but only to children who believe.

            Given the supply chain issues around the world, some people are concerned about procuring proper holiday food. This isn’t an issue in my household. We don’t yearn for ham or turkey or stuffing or pumpkin pie. We’ll eat those things, but that’s not what makes our mouths water. That is reserved for savory Southeast Asian food full of spice. Since it’s not unusual for us to entertain international guests around the holidays, who find most American cuisine bland, this is a good thing.

            On top of all the western holidays my boys celebrate, they have the good fortune to celebrate Chinese New Year. Next year, Chinese New Year falls on February 1, 2022 since it is determined by the lunar calendar. 2022 will be the year of the Tiger, so our house will be decorated with red tiger figurines. We’ll dress up in red, enjoy a feast of traditional Southeast Asian fare, and the boys will receive hongbao, red envelopes containing cash. You may have noticed that red is a theme around Chinese New Year. The new year is a day to wish for year-round good fortune, and red is a very lucky color.

            As you can imagine, my boys love celebrating as many holidays as possible. Although I do grow tired of the consumerism around the holidays at times, they are an excellent opportunity to spend time with family and celebrate traditions both ancient and new.

Shutterbug Allison Lee is trying to survive high school while suffering the popular girl’s abuse. Her life is often abysmal, but at least her green hair is savage. Her talent for photography is recognized by the school paper and the judges of a photo contest.

While visiting her friend Joe, a homeless vet, Allison’s life irrevocably changes after an attack leaves her blind. All her dreams as a photojournalist are dashed as she realizes she’ll never see again. Despair sets in until she is offered an experimental procedure to restore her vision. But there are side effects, or are they hallucinations? She now sees dragons accompanying some of the people she meets. Can she trust her eyes, or has the procedure affected her more than she can see?

Dan has wanted to write novels since first reading Frank Herbert’s Dune at the age of eleven. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he often goes hiking with his family through mist-shrouded forests and along alpine trails with expansive views.

Dragons Walk Among Us is his debut novel. He is currently writing its sequel.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Buy the book at Books2Read.

Filed Under: Guest Blogs, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , ,
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