On Duck Pond by Jane Yolen

August 9, 2023 By 1 Comment


On Duck Pond by Jane Yolen
Publisher: The Cornell Lab Publishing Group
Genre: Children’s (0-8 yrs), Animals, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

ON BIRD HILL took readers on a surreal journey with a boy and his dog, as they stopped, looked, and noticed things along their path, ultimately discovering the miracle a hatching baby bird.ON DUCK POND continues their journey, this time in a new place―a serene pond, filled with birds, frogs, turtles, and other creatures going about their quiet business. Their intrusion stirs the pond into a cacophony of activity, reaching a climactic chaos before slowly settling back to a quiet equilibrium.

This beautiful and enchanting sequel is sure to delight ON BIRD HILL fans and millions of readers of Jane’s popular classics.

Beautiful story about a day at the pond.

I’ve never thought about a day at the pond this way. This is a beautiful story about a man watching the ducks come to the pond. It’s a great story of realizing what’s happening, taking a moment to take it all in and observing what’s around us. I loved it and will look at time at the pond or out in nature a little differently.

If you’re interested in a story about nature and observing, then this is the book for you.

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

Purplicious by Victoria Kann Elizabeth Kann

August 9, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Purplicious by Victoria Kann Elizabeth Kann
A Pinkalicious book
Publisher: HarperCollins Childrens
Genre: YA, Childrens (5-10 yrs), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Pinkalicious, a young girl remains true to herself and discovers that pink isn’t only a pretty color, but also a powerful one.

While everyone knows Pinkalicious’s favorite color is pink, the bullies at her new school don’t agree. All the girls are wearing black, painting in black, and making fun of Pinkalicious for loving pink. “Pink is for babies and stinks!” they tell her. Pinkalicious feels left out until she learns that pink can be a powerful color, and that the most important thing is to be yourself.

Pink isn’t just a pretty color, it’s powerful.

I liked this book because it took on the topic of peer pressure and being true to yourself. Many young people feel they have to cave to peer pressure because it’s so strong. This book shows how this young lady started to give in, but also found strength she didn’t know she had. I liked her journey and am glad I went with her on it.

The other girls tell her black is the best color and pink is for little kids or pink isn’t cool any longer. It’s up to Pinkalicious to decide what she wants. It’s a fun story, but also shows young people that it’s okay to be original.

If you’re looking for a book about being true to yourself and giving yourself a chance to explore, then this might be the book for you.

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

Dog’s Day by Jane Cabrera

August 8, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Dog’s Day by Jane Cabrera
Publisher: Orchard Books
Genre: YA, Childrens (0-6 yrs), Animals
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Dog has a very busy day with his animal friends, swinging from the trees with Monkey, flying through the clouds with Bird, and hopping and jumping with Rabbit.

Fun with Dog!

I picked up this book because of the dog on the cover. The colors simply popped. The story is very simple, but that’s okay. I liked it because it showed young readers what this particular dog is up to and teaches interactions, but also does it with bright colors and a fun storyline. I liked that younger children could read this to themselves. It’s simple, but that’s the beauty of the story. Dog has a great day doing all sorts of things and it’s fun.

If you’re looking for a short book to read with your blossoming reader, then this is a fun one to consider.

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A SEALs Touch by Tawny Weber

August 8, 2023 By Leave a Comment


A SEALs Touch by Tawny Weber
Publisher: Harlequin Mills And Boon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Subject: Navy SEAL Taylor Powell

Mission: Find a sexy fake girlfriend…with even sexier benefits!

Lieutenant Taylor “The Wizard” Powell has a reputation for getting out of tricky situations. Bad guys, bombs, weapons—no problem. Finding a girlfriend in order to evade matchmaking friends? Not so easy. He’s banking on contractor Cat Peres to help him out…not realizing his tomboy friend has a whole lot of sexy surprises hidden in her tool belt.

Cat can’t remember a time when Taylor wasn’t the object of her hottest dreams—so she can’t help but agree to his plan. Their only rule? Friends, no matter what. Except the deliciously hot chemistry that ignites between them takes them both by surprise…and having nothing between them might just ruin everything.

Lieutenant Taylor Powell is used to taking care of himself, but he’s really struggling to avoid what feels like everyone in his life trying to set him up with a long procession of women. So he reaches out to one of his closest friends, Cat Peres to try and stem the tide. What starts as a fake relationship all too quickly becomes real for them both – but can they risk their long-term friendship on something that might not work out?

This is a very enjoyable, spicy romance. Readers who like the “friends to lovers” trope should feel this is a very satisfying story. While Cat has been smitten with Taylor for years, I really did enjoy how she didn’t just hang around for him. She was completely modern and carried on with her work and life and I was really pleased with this.

With these sorts of books, I am always amused and enjoy how surprised the hero inevitably is by the chemistry and shock at looking at such a long-standing friend in a new light. I really enjoyed how Taylor didn’t try to walk away from that, especially once he realized it was obviously more than just hormones, but a strong and real connection.

Sassy and fun, this is a great and quick read I really enjoyed.

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Cows to the Rescue by John Himmelman

August 7, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Cows to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Genre: Humor, Contemporary, Childrens (0-8 yrs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

It’s the day of the county fair!

Three-legged races, a “Smartest Pig” contest, the Ferris wheel―what could be more fun? But the Greenstalks’ car won’t start, so they’ll need some help getting there. . . .
Cows to the Rescue is the fabulous new book in John Himmelman’s hilarious barnyard saga. It follows Chickens to the Rescue and Pigs to the Rescue, bringing back the fun with brand new mishaps and brand moo―er, new―problem-solvers.

A humorous book about the cows…coming to the rescue!

I liked this story because it showed how sometimes we have to have a little bit of rescue. The series of events and how the cows helped is so funny. Children will love the funny illustrations. The cows aren’t always the best at helping with the situation, but that’s not always bad. They’re trying their best. It’s funny and repetitive, which makes it perfect for children learning to read and those who just want to laugh.

If you’re looking for a funny book that will help younger readers, then this is the story for you.

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

The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan

August 4, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Morag MacIntyre is a Scottish lass from the remote islands that make up the northernmost reaches of the UK. She’s also a third-generation pilot, the heir apparent to an island plane service she runs with her grandfather. The islands—over 500 dots of windswept land that reach almost to Norway—rely on their one hardworking prop plane to deliver mail, packages, tourists, medicine, and the occasional sheep. As the keeper of this vital lifeline, Morag is used to landing on pale golden beaches and tiny grass airstrips, whether during great storms or on bright endless summer nights. Up in the blue sky, Morag feels at one with the elements.

Down on the ground is a different matter, though. Her grandfather is considering and Morag wonders if she truly wants to spend the rest of her life in the islands. Her boyfriend Hayden, from flight school, wants Morag to move to Dubai with him, where they’ll fly A380s and say goodbye to Scotland’s dark winters.

Morag is on the verge of making a huge life change when an unusually bumpy landing during a storm finds her marooned on Inchborn island. Inchborn is gloriously off-grid, home only to an ancient ruined abbey, a bird-watching station, and a population of one: Gregor, a visiting ornithologist from Glasgow who might have just the right perspective to help Morag pilot her course.

A woman trying to chart her own path.

Morag knows what she wants in life—to get the heck away from the Scottish winters and find the sun and warmth of Dubai. But she can’t control the circumstances and ends up on an island. The writing was good and the story interesting, but it did take a while to get moving and was a slow start. I did like the characters, though and the journey of her coming into her own. I liked that she had to go on the journey and how she did it. It was fascinating and uplifting, too.

If you’re looking for a good romance with a great journey, then give this book a try.

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

Seducing The Marine by Kate Hoffman

August 3, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Seducing The Marine by Kate Hoffman
Publisher: Harlequin Mills And Boon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Subject: Marine Will MacIntyre

Current Status: Medical leave

One day a year Will MacIntyre lets himself remember the woman who left him after he enlisted. But seven years later, on the anniversary of that fateful day, Will is defusing a bomb in Afghanistan—and it explodes.

Dr. Oliva Eklund can barely find the boy she loved inside the hard, chiseled body of the man Will is now—a Marine who knows just how to tempt her, just how to seduce her. Olivia is well aware that Will plans to return to his unit after he recovers, but she can’t resist trying to heal him. Even if it means sending him back into a war zone. And breaking them apart forever.

Seven years ago Dr Olivia Eklund and Will MacIntyre broke up – on the day he enlisted to join the Marines. For seven years Will had defused bombs – literally – and not made a single mistake, until he finally lost his streak and the bomb he was defusing blows up. Returning home, Will is shocked to run into Olivia, and even more surprised she’s now a local doctor. Olivia knows she needs to heal Will – but she also knows that means their hearts might break when he leaves. Again.

I enjoyed this spicy romance and really felt Olivia and Will were a strongly matched couple. Neither of them had let their hurt stop them from achieving what they each wanted, even if they had never really been truly happy in the intervening years. I was particularly pleased that even though this is a typical Harlequin romance novel, it was still very modern and relatable. The spice and heat of the chemistry between Liv and Will was believable but not enough for me to feel the book should be slapped with an “erotic” title. There was plenty of plot and characterization outside of the simmering romance between our two main characters.

Equally I was pleased Liv didn’t simply hang around town and wait for her wayward hero to return. Liv actually went out there and enjoyed her life. She has an incredible intelligence and used that to get her medical degree then build a satisfying life around that. I really enjoyed how both Liv and Will had solid and logical reasons for their behavior, but they were each willing to listen and try to keep an open mind about the other.

Readers who enjoy a spicy romance should definitely find this an enjoyable and delicious read.

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I Am Quiet – A Story for the Introvert in All Of Us by Andie Powers

August 3, 2023 By Leave a Comment


I Am Quiet – A Story for the Introvert in All Of Us by Andie Powers
Publisher: Bala Kids
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Emile is not shy—he is quiet.

Emile may seem timid and shy on the outside, but on the inside he is bustling with imagination. While grownups and even other kids may see Emile as the shy kid who doesn’t raise his hand in class, we know that Emile is actually a high-seas adventurer, a daring explorer, and a friend to wild beasts.

This story honors and encourages the beauty of knowing ourselves for exactly who we are. Emile’s world shows us that the mind of a quiet child can be as rich, expansive, and bold as that of any other (more extroverted) child.

Everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin.

One of the weaknesses of extroverted cultures like the United States is that they tend to overlook the many strengths of quiet, introverted people. This picture book was a beautiful correction of the notion that it’s not okay to be quiet or need time alone to recharge your social battery. Our world is filled with all sorts of people, and the diversity of personalities we have in it should be celebrated.

I loved the narrator’s positive and supportive tone. It worked just as well for kids as it would for teenagers or adults. Quiet people of all ages may sometimes need to be reminded that there is nothing wrong with them and that their gentle natures and rich inner lives are a gift. This is a wonderful place to find that support whenever the outside world once again insists that everyone should behave the same way.

Speaking of rich inner lives, I adored the scenes that explored the many gorgeous thoughts a person might have without ever sharing them. It matched my experience as a quiet person perfectly. Not everything needs to be shared in life. There is definitely something to be said for keeping certain imaginative thoughts to yourself and silently enjoying them.

How grownups speak to children matters. Kids don’t always understand things the same way adults do, and even when they do they can carry critical comments with them for years to come. This was an excellent reminder to speak kindly to everyone and not to label them based on assumptions about how much anyone should talk.

I Am Quiet – A Story for the Introvert in All Of Us was a breath of fresh air for anyone who has ever been pressured to be more talkative.

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

Saltwater Sorrows by Rhonda Parrish (editor)

August 2, 2023 By 1 Comment


Saltwater Sorrows by Rhonda Parrish (editor)
Publisher: Tyche Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Romance, Historical, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Deep, mysterious, beautiful . . . dangerous . . .

Women and the sea have been tied together in myth and story from the beginning of time. Tales of women being drawn to the sea or being left on the shore, waiting for their men’s return, have been passed down through the ages.

But what mysteries lie beneath the sparkling placid waters? What power drives the wind and waves crashing against the shore? There is transformation and exaltation—magic—in the ocean and women alike. And both know that while the sea gives, the sea also takes.

Sink into the icy depths of the ocean with these stories by: E.E. King; Natalie Cannon; Morgan Melhuish; Paul A. Hamilton; Laura VanArendonk Baugh; Sarah Van Goethem; Adria Laycraft; Dino Parenti; B. Zelkovich; Lisa Carreiro; Lea Storry; Nikoline Kaiser; Elin Olausson; Chandra Fisher; Hayley Stone; V.F. LeSann; Catherine MacLeod; and Jennifer R. Donohue.

Safety isn’t guaranteed, but magic is.

Adelia lost multiple relatives to the sea in “Salt in Our Blood, Salt in Our Tears.” When she grew older, she attempted to figure out a way to keep her loved ones safe while they were on the water. I loved her determination and grit and couldn’t stop reading until I’d learned her fate. She wasn’t a wealthy or powerful woman, so anything she accomplished took every ounce of energy and luck she could scrounge up. This was one of my favorite instalments, and I’d love to read a sequel to it someday if the author ever writes one.

In “The Ghost of Violet Gray,” Arthur was distracted by a mysterious woman while surveying a beach to see how much damage the erosion on it was doing to the historic properties that lined the shore. The descriptions of the beach and the stately old homes that had weathered so many storms were beautiful. I would have happily remained in this tale for much longer, especially once my suspicions about how the plot might turn out began to be confirmed. This was a gorgeous snapshot of how the past can be honored by a community who also must adjust to an ever-changing coastline that can’t safely be used in the same way it was before.

“Glass, Paper, Salt” explored how a small group of strangers reacted to a zombie outbreak. The combination of references to zombies, mermaids, and the sea surprised me, especially once I realized how logically the characters were thinking about their longterm chances of survival now that their world was falling apart. This is one of those stories that works best if new readers walk into it unaware of what is coming. I only mentioned the zombies in this review because of how quickly they appeared in the text, but I will leave the rest of the creative plot twists up for others to discover for themselves. It was yet another excellent addition to this book.

One of the biggest reasons why I gave this anthology a full five-star rating was how beautifully different each tale was from one another. Some of them were heavy, difficult, but deeply meaningful reads, while a few were surprisingly light and airy given the dark theme. I wish I had the time and space to review every single one of them in this review. It was tricky to narrow down my selections to only a few! I’d recommend reading this with an open mind and while making as few assumptions about what might happen next as possible. There were so many gems included here.

Saltwater Sorrows was the perfect snapshot of the ever-changing nature of the sea.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

There’s No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin

August 1, 2023 By Leave a Comment


There’s No Coming Back From This by Ann Garvin
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS.

After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way out: a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It’s a bold move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy’s a capable person—how hard can a job in wardrobe be? It’s not like she has a choice; her life couldn’t get any worse. Even so, this midwesterner has a lot to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue.

As a single mom, she’s rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn’t sew, and she doesn’t know a thing about dressing the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one ally: Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie star taken with Poppy’s unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom.

When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who’s at the center of it, a revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a spotlight illuminating the facts: Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown.

Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she’s always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Poppy Lively sure is desperate. By trusting the wrong person at the wrong time, her entire life has been sent into a tailspin, one she doesn’t think she’ll be able to pull herself – or her daughter – out of in time. So, what does a mom do when there’s nothing left to do? She accepts a job from a man she hasn’t seen in over a decade and moves across the country for a job. Of course she does, right?

Poppy Lively is your typical Midwestern mom. Hardworking, loving, and dedicated to her only child, So dedicated that she does everything in her power to make sure that her daughter has no idea that they’re about to lose everything. Her journey from single mom in Wisconsin to the costume department on a move set in Los Angeles is one that so many make, but never for the reasons she chose.

Her transformation is amazing. When she arrives in LA, Poppy is uncertain, confused, and hopeless. She has no one and nowhere to go, so she sneaks about trying not to get caught surviving. The more desperate her situation becomes, the less she starts to care about what others might think and sets her eye on the prize. Along the way, she gets some very unexpected help from a movie star, an arrogant but traumatized young woman, and a dog that was thrust into her care.

Packed full of laughter, life lessons, and a ton of spunky characters, There’s No Coming Back from This is an entertaining adventure of one woman who is out of her element. Poppy is a brilliant light in a city full of burnt-out bulbs. Even in her lowest moments, I was rooting for her and knew she’d succeed in the end.

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