The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman

July 6, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman
Publisher: Graphix
Genre: LGBTQ, Graphic Novel, Contemporary, YA (15+ yrs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The Heartstopper Yearbook is packed full of exclusive content from the Heartstopper universe: never-before-seen illustrations, an exclusive minicomic, character profiles, trivia, and insight into Alice Oseman’s creative process, narrated by a cartoon version of Alice herself. In full-color for the first time, this companion book is perfect for fans of Heartstopper!

More Heartstopper? Yes, please.

If you like the Heartstopper books, then you’ve got to check out the yearbook. These are bits and pieces about the series as well as early drawings and tidbits by the author about the series. Hardcore fans will eat this book up.

I liked seeing the evolution of Charlie and Nick because it showed they weren’t fully formed when the author started them and there was some growth beyond the story. I liked seeing the way the author handled the issues with each character, too. There were snippets of other characters and their stories, too. I liked seeing a bit in on the teachers, too. They’re my favorite characters of the series.

If you like the Heartstopper series and want just a little more of these characters, then this is the book for you. Check it out.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Kitty’s Cuddles by Jane Cabrera

July 5, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Kitty’s Cuddles by Jane Cabrera
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Childrens (1+ years – Toddlers), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Bear has a cozy, fluffy cuddle; Elephant, a big, strong cuddle; even Porcupine has a careful, prickly cuddle. But Kitty’s brother hugs the best! Follow along Kitty’s journey and learn that there are many different ways to show affection, and all of them matter most when shared with others.

Kitty just wants to cuddle.

I loved this book because it showed how many different ways you can cuddle. It’s a good illustration for children learning different animals and aspects of those animals in a very simplistic way. I also liked that the story showed variety. Not one cuddle is better than another. They’re all equal. It’s a sweet little story and good for young readers or those being read to. The ending was the best for me.

If you’re looking for a cute book to read to your child or for your child to practice with when starting reading, this is the one you want.

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

Chubbs: A Blind Cat Learns to Trust by Sandra Sorenson-Kindt

July 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Chubbs: A Blind Cat Learns to Trust by Sandra Sorenson-Kindt
Publisher: Lean In Books
Genre: Contemporary, Childrens (8+ yrs), Inspirational
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A mangy alley cat isn’t at the top of anybody’s adoption list.

Nevertheless, when Grandma Sandy scoops it up into her arms, her heart nudges her to take it home, and she listens. Grandma always trusts her feelings.

Lots of tender care soon transforms the mangy cat into beautiful, round Chubbs. But when she loses her sight, will she listen to her feelings like Grandma and learn to trust the one who loves her most?

Chubbs: A Blind Cat Learns to Trust is a faith-based, inspirational story about a cat who learns to trust her rescuer. The relationship between Chubbs and Grandma Sandy is a comparison to the relationship we can have with God.

Literally blind, Chubbs must learn how to navigate her world just like how we must learn to depend on God’s Spirit to help us navigate our lives.

Chubbs, the cat who gets a second chance…again.

I picked this book up because the main character was a cat called…Chubbs. I mean, how could I pass that up? I couldn’t. I’m glad I didn’t. This was a cute story with a faith-based slant. It’s a good story.

I did have some issues with the situation with Grandma’s first cat. It seemed like she could’ve looked a bit more for the cat and that rubbed me the wrong way that she didn’t. Yes, cats run away, but you never stop looking and it felt like she did. It could be me and the time in which I read the book, but that rankled me.

I did like that Grandma adopted (Not shopped!) Chubbs from the animal shelter. That was great. I also liked how the relationship between the woman and the cat resembled the faith relationship between followers and God. Sometimes you need a helping hand. It’s a good lesson for readers.

This was a cute story and I’m glad I read it. I couldn’t pass up Chubbs—in the book and probably not at the shelter, either.

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

Zen and the Art of Brazilian Sticky (& other roofing tales) by Gennita Low

July 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Zen and the Art of Brazilian Sticky (& other roofing tales) by Gennita Low
Publisher: GLow World
Genre: Contemporary, Humor, Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Life as a roofer is hard work. Endless hours beneath a blazing sun, pounding rain, howling wind and even the occasional hurricane (you’d be surprised at the calls during a hurricane).

But there are lots of laughs and moments of Zen if you spend time with Gennita’s cast and crew. There is nothing like watching life through the eyes of a female roofer who writes romance books, a bunch of “crapenters,” a grumpy Airborne Ranger Vietnam Vet, and a stucco man affectionately dubbed “the Brazilian Sticky Man” with a flair for creative renaming of just about everything under the sun. In fact, his “Semen Maker” is probably the star of the show, with its Zen way of giving meaning to daily shenanigans.

How a few mispronounced words, a little laughter and friends can make the day!

First, I have to note that the author has done work as a roofer. Really. She’s a tiny woman, but I can imagine her holding her own on a roof. That said, this book is a collection of stories loosely based on her time roofing.

This was a funny book. Hands down. I was told to get it because I’d laugh out loud. Normally, I’m not much for bursting out laughing while reading, but with this book, I did. Jenn is the head of the roofing crew and she works with the Brazilian stucco man. BSM as she refers to him, has a tendency to change words. His stucco is his sticky and his cement mixer is his semen maker. I hadn’t thought there could be that many ways to mess up those words and make the conversation veer right into the dirty, but it’s possible. I loved the stories and could actually see most of them happening.

The writing flowed well because it felt like I was reading a story by a friend or at least a conversation with a friend. I won’t give too much away, but if you’re in the mood to laugh, then this is the book for you. Give it a try.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Immortal Ink: A Tattoo Coloring Book by Tania Maia (Author), El Rose (Author), François Gautier (Author)

July 3, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Immortal Ink: A Tattoo Coloring Book by Tania Maia (Author), El Rose (Author), François Gautier (Author)
Publisher: Plume
Genre: Art, Non-Fiction, Coloring Book
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

More than just a coloring book, Immortal Ink is a true celebration of tattoo art.

Featuring 45 incredible designs from talented tattoo artists, each illustration is as inspiring as it is fun to color. With artwork in eight different styles including Americana, Japanese, blackwork, and steampunk, each daring design offers you the opportunity to unleash your own creativity as you add your choice of stylish color. The accompanying text delves into the history and ethos of each genre and explores the rich and fascinating symbolism behind individual elements used in every spectacular piece.

Beautiful and distinctive, Immortal Ink will celebrate an art form that has captivated us for generations.

A coloring book for adults that’s a wonderful step into the world of tattooing and what’s behind the design.

I hadn’t taken up the fun of coloring in adult coloring books until the last few years. Now I see what the excitement is all about. The art in this book is tattoo art, which is already fantastic, but now it’s up to the person with the colored pencils to add the pop of color. I liked that. I also liked that there’s a description with each design that’s not just a simplistic line about what the image is, but why the art is popular and what it symbolizes. That’s fascinating.

If you’re looking for a coloring book with not only images, but education and a great sense of fantasy, then this is the coloring book for you. Check it out!

Filed Under: Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

32 Days – A Memoir of Love and Death by Deborah Sabin

July 3, 2023 By 4 Comments


32 Days – A Memoir of Love and Death by Deborah Sabin
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating 5 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Mitch and Debbi were beshert. Soulmates. She knew it from the first day of law school. He came to the same conclusion just a few months later. From that day on, they were rarely apart. Debbi made one, five, and ten-year plans for their future. Mitch always replied, “Yeah. Maybe someday.” Someday came too soon.

A terrible freak accident put Mitchell in a hospital remote from home, with a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Alone in the ICU with her husband, away from her children and family, Deborah struggled to manage their days and find a way to keep their love and their marriage alive. Every night, she wrote him a note of news, hope, and love. But, thirty-two days were all they had. Mitch died and Debbi was left with two small children. With the help of family and friends, she struggled to make a life for three seem as good as the life they had when they were a family of four. All traces of her time in the hospital with Mitchell were stored in the “sad” box, stuffed high on a shelf in the back of the closet.

Twenty-five years later, the notes resurfaced in an unlikely space. Deborah knew it was time to share the letters with family, friends, and the world. 32 Days is the story of a wonderful man, taken from this world much too soon. A husband, father, son, brother, friend, lawyer and advocate, and the courageous battle he fought to stay alive. Until someday. Mitchell and Deborah’s story is one of love that transcends time and space. Of faith that grows stronger even in the face of the unimaginable. Of the healing strength given by family and friends. Of hope that life will go on. Of someday.

Two people, one love and one future.

I knew when I picked up this book I’d have moments of levity, but that I’d cry, too, and I did. Deborah Sabin, aka the author Morgan Malone, writes about the thirty-two days in which her life changed. Her husband, her beloved Mitch, was hurt in an accident and this is the story of what happened over the course of those thirty-two days.

The writing moves along at a great clip, despite the not so fun topic. I felt exactly the way she did when writing it—her heart breaking, her soul dimming just a bit, but the fight growing stronger in her. Oh and her love for Mitch. I can’t say I’m glad the author went through this, but I’m honored that she was willing to share her story. Share her heartbreak. It resonates on every page.

If you’re ever loved someone and lost them, then this is a book that will speak to you. If you’ve had a soulmate who was gone too soon, then I recommend this book. It’s a keeper.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Honey & Ice by Dorothy F Shaw

June 30, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Honey & Ice by Dorothy F Shaw
Publisher: Red Queen Publications
Genre: Contemporary, Erotica
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Desi Profit has had her eye on the tall and delicious biker, Griffin Sinclair, for a while now. A little too tipsy one night, Desi confesses her obsession to a mutual friend and asks him to relay her fantasy to Griffin.
Having no idea if the message was delivered—and half praying it wasn’t—Desi runs into Griffin a week later. And when the hotter than hell biker puts her on the back of his motorcycle, Desi has no idea she’s in for the wildest, most exciting ride of her life.

Hot, quick and sexy.

I picked up this story because I wanted something for a lunchtime read that would be hot, quick and had a bit of raunch to it. I mean that in a good way and this short story delivered. The writing clipped along nicely and there was just enough story to keep my interest while being hot and fun.

Desi wants to be with Griff in the worst way. She’s just gotta have him. Griff wants her, too. This isn’t a romance, per se. It’s an erotic story, but that’s fine. It’s a snippet of their story and I know there has to be more, which is good because it made me crave more. I wanted to know what would happen to these people after this. That’s pretty great. I liked that this was hot, too. It hit the right points.

If you’re looking for something hot and short for a break or lunchtime read, then this is the book for you. I recommend it.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Mo : A Woman’s View of Watergate by Maureen Dean

June 28, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Mo : A Woman’s View of Watergate by Maureen Dean
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Political
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Maureen Dean’s experience of Watergate centers on what clothing to wear according to the configurations of the stars (though she says she doesn’t exactly believe in astrology), and how a woman can spend time alone with her increasingly preoccupied, sleepless, and near-alcoholic husband. It is the extreme “”Penelope”” view. One she regrets in hindsight, for Maureen thinks the Watergate cover-up could never have become so dense if only the Nixon men had confided in their–presumably more moral–wives. As it was, what else was there for her to do but worry about knit dresses as she followed the incommunicado John Dean from Key Biscayne to San Clemente to Las Vegas to Camp David on the peregrinations that were supposed to save a government but finally toppled it? No one in politics talked to her, except politely, as a duty, or crudely, as a tomato; the power sincerely bores her; she thinks the pomp is childish–she’d rather be alone with her husband. Her book is actually a love paean to John Dean whom Mo sees as witty, supportive, loving and principled (we have to take it on faith since in this busy period he was rarely around); the “”collapsing world”” she is forever talking about is her home and expectations, not the country which she’s glad is purged of Nixon. It is a sentimental book by the unliberated housewife, but then, bourgeois sentiment may be a better emotion than the lust for power among those who ran the country: we cannot depend on nightwatchmen with astute eyes to catch all our criminals.

One woman’s view of the whole Watergate ‘thing’ and how it affected her life.

I call Watergate a ‘thing’ because it’s more like a moving, crawling being in this book. It’s a looming monster and it takes a strong person to withstand such events. Maureen Dean is one of those people. I blew through this book in the matter of a few hours and loved every second. It was like reading a book by a dear friend or reading their diary. It flowed well and kept me captivated.

Maureen Dean is the wife of John Dean, the man who (among others) blew the lid off the Watergate scandal and helped bring down President Richard Nixon. This book isn’t so much about the case itself, but rather her dealings with the peripherals. How she helped her husband with testimony prep, the fear of being attacked, the confusion over what happened (and what she didn’t know about), and how it all made her life a bit miserable, but she still persevered.

I liked that this wasn’t a strictly political book. There is raw emotion there. She’s not a perfect person, either, and that shines through. That’s what I liked the most about it, her realism and personality.

If you’re looking for a book that’s part politics, part historical but mostly emotional, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

National Geographic Kids Everything Mythology: Begin Your Quest for Facts, Photos, and Fun Fit for Gods and Goddesses by Blake Hoena

June 27, 2023 By Leave a Comment


National Geographic Kids Everything Mythology: Begin Your Quest for Facts, Photos, and Fun Fit for Gods and Goddesses by Blake Hoena
Publisher: National Geographic
Genre: Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Childrens (10+ yrs), Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

National Geographic Everything Mythology is jam packed with fascinating facts and awe-inspiring imagery that brings your favorite fierce mythological heroes to life, introducing kids to gods of ancient worlds, including Greek, Norse, Chinese, American Indian, African cultures, and more. Packed with facts, colorful illustrations, and infused with humor, this fun journey through ancient lore will keep kids fascinated with every turn of the page.

Want to know something about mythology in bites and bits? Then this is the book for you!

I picked up this book because of the impressive art on the front. Who doesn’t like Poseidon? He drew me in, but the text and the storytelling kept me riveted. I blew right through the book and couldn’t get enough. The author doesn’t hit the high points mythology, but also includes more inclusive myths and characters, which I loved. It wasn’t the usual, so every reader will find something new in these pages.

The illustrations and art are fantastic. The factoids are as well. There is a lot to learn in this book. If you’re simply researching mythology, want to start learning about a particular myth or want a point of discussion for you and your reader, then this is the book for you. Check it out!

Filed Under: Other, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Someone Like You by Morgan Malone

June 26, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Someone Like You by Morgan Malone
The I’ll Never Say I Do Series, Book 1
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

“I dare you, I double, triple dare you, to go online for three months and really look at the guys who are out there just waiting to fall in love with the awesome women you are! I bet you that you will all be head over heels and engaged by the end of the year!”

Seri, Jessica, Emily and Olivia made a vow in college never to marry when they formed The “I’ll Never Say I Do” Club. At 40, they are all rich, successful and alone. Then Seri meets and falls in love with a man she met online. At her Maine wedding, she issues a challenge to her three bridesmaids: Three months to meet a man they want to marry. The consolation prize if they fail: a New Year’s trip to Hawaii. What have they got to lose?

Love ‘em and leave ‘em had always been Dr. Jessica Mizrahi’s motto. No way was anyone going to get inside her heart and hurt her. Again. On the night of Seri’s wedding, Jess falls into a hot and heavy quickie with a bold, bad boy chef. The next day, she’s back in Saratoga Springs and her busy practice, beautiful apartment and no men complicating her life. Then, the chef shows up in her hometown, to open a long-awaited restaurant right next door. Jess fights the attraction but she’s drawn to the warmth in his flashing eyes, the humor lurking behind his cocky smirks and the memories of their brief but blistering time together. He’s more than he seemed and is becoming more than she can handle.

Steve Cole is the hottest chef in Manhattan. For ten years, he’s clawed his way to the top, earning three Michelin stars. But he’s not happy. He dreams of intimate bistros in resort towns along the East Coast. He’s checking out a possible location in Maine when a brash and beautiful bridesmaid seduces him. Word for word and move for move, she’s his match and they end up in the hottest tryst he’s ever experienced. Then she’s gone. Until days later, when she literally knocks him down in front of Yaya’s, the first of his resort bistros. Steve can’t let his guard down and risk another broken heart. He’s got a restaurant to open in two weeks! He’ll keep it loose and lusty, no strings. Then he’ll move on.

Jess has vowed never to love any man and Steve refuses to trust any woman. But, the sparks that were ignited in Maine, are burning hot and bright in Saratoga. Doubts and fears from their pasts may be too much for them to overcome, but Seri’s challenge has given Jess hope. Does her sexy chef have the recipe for happy-ever-after?

She’ll never say I do…unless she does.

Having read other books by Morgan Malone, I knew I’d get a great happy ever after in this story and I wasn’t disappointed. The writing moved along at a great clip and I was totally engrossed in the story. I rooted for the characters and loved the dog. It’s a well-rounded story and one I recommend highly.

Jess and Steve aren’t supposed to work. On paper, they don’t. But in real life, they’re perfect for each other. I liked how they balanced each other and how they were both stubborn, too. They were very realistic, which is great. I could see my friends in Jess. I loved the way the romance blossomed, too. It wasn’t too fast, but just right.

If you’re looking for a story with strong-willed people, solid writing and a fun story, then this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,
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