How to Make Friends With a Ghost by Rebecca Green

August 1, 2023 By Leave a Comment


How to Make Friends With a Ghost by Rebecca Green
Publisher: Andersen Press Ltd
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Holiday, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

What do you do when you meet a ghost? One: Provide the ghost with some of its favorite snacks, like mud tarts and earwax truffles. Two: Tell your ghost bedtime stories (ghosts love to be read to). Three: Make sure no one mistakes your ghost for whipped cream or a marshmallow when you aren’t looking! If you follow these few simple steps and the rest of the essential tips in How to Make Friends with a Ghost, you’ll see how a ghost friend will lovingly grow up and grow old with you.

A whimsical story about ghost care, Rebecca Green’s debut picture book is a perfect combination of offbeat humor, quirky and sweet illustrations, and the timeless theme of friendship.

It’s never too early to celebrate Halloween!

The nice thing about this tale was that it felt like Halloween but had a more generic autumn setting. This meant that it could be read in other cool, chilly months – or even not so chilly months – without me feeling like I was a reading something too out of season. There are spooky things to be found all throughout the year, after all, and it encouraged me to see what might make me shudder no matter when I might reread it.

There were some portions that I thought were far too scary for this age group. For example, one scene warned the reader not to eat their pet ghost and showed illustrations of ghosts who had been fried, baked, grilled, and otherwise turned into food. That could have been funny for older kids, but many of the little ones I’ve known would find it terrifying. If only the tone of that scene had remained lighthearted and playful like the rest of it was!

The portions that read like a pet care manual made me grin. Yes, of course there are similarities between taking care of a ghost and a more traditional companion like a rabbit, cat, or dog. This was a clever way to explain how hauntings work in this universe, and it makes me want to see what else the author has written.

I also found myself wondering why anyone would want to lure a ghost into their home in the first place. Most stories are about trying to get rid of the spirits haunting a person or a place, after all! It would have been help for the author to clarify what they were thinking there.

The last few scenes were unusual for this genre. It involved the main character growing old and their ghost reacting to that change. I don’t want to say much else about that to avoid sharing spoilers, but it could be a good jumping off point for discussions about aging and how families take care of each other.

How to Make Friends With a Ghost was creative.

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

Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby

July 28, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Audible Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Audible Narrator: Adam Lazarre-White
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: Best Book
Reviewed by Ginger

A Black father. A white father. Two murdered sons. A quest for vengeance.

Ike Randolph has been out of jail for fifteen years, with not so much as a speeding ticket in all that time. But a Black man with cops at the door knows to be afraid.

The last thing he expects to hear is that his son Isiah has been murdered, along with Isiah’s white husband, Derek. Ike had never fully accepted his son but is devastated by his loss.

Derek’s father Buddy Lee was almost as ashamed of Derek for being gay as Derek was ashamed of his father’s criminal record. Buddy Lee still has contacts in the underworld, though, and he wants to know who killed his boy.

Ike and Buddy Lee, two ex-cons with little else in common other than a criminal past and a love for their dead sons, band together in their desperate desire for revenge. In their quest to do better for their sons in death than they did in life, hardened men Ike and Buddy Lee will confront their own prejudices about their sons and each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who hurt their boys.

Provocative and fast-paced, S. A. Cosby’s Razorblade Tears is a story of bloody retribution, heartfelt change – and maybe even redemption.

Ike Randolph and Buddy Lee are both ex-con fathers with a lot more in common than they thought–the love of their sons and the heart to confront not only their sons’ killer but their own prejudices.

This book is filled with fast paced action, bloody violence, heartfelt change, and personal growth. There are a lot of important topics touched on, talked about, revealed, and delivered in such a masterful way that I wish I could rate this book 10 stars. There is humor, healing, brotherhood, reflection, love, and judgement. Judgement of race, sexuality, social class, criminal history and probably the worst kind, self judgement. The message I took from this novel is to give people their flowers (love, acknowledgment, acceptance) while they are presently here in the physical. Do not judge someone for who they love, for the color of their skin, their criminal record because in the end all that does not matter. They are human, and time is short and precious.

I very much enjoyed this novel. There is action, violence, and topics that may be sensitive to some but, I personally would love to see this as a movie (but only if they’d don’t change anything). This is a current day storyline that will impact readers from any lifestyle or social class. The characters are well developed, likeable and authentically true to life. I enjoyed both Ike and Buddy Lee; they were not bad men but seeing them self-reflect on things they could have done better or differently, seeing them appreciate the important things now and seeing them change for the better was at times an emotional read. There were times it felt like an invasion of their privacy as they processed their healing, and then I had to remind myself they were not real.

My favorite character is Buddy Lee. He is down to earth, keeps it real and comes with no filter. In the audio version of the book Buddy Lee needed his own narrator. The narrator did an awesome job but a character with the personality of Buddy Lee deserves his own. The writing is superb. Readers will be able to take away their own message because the author is just that award talented in covering so much that it fits a multitude. This book kept my attention and is definitely on my highly recommend memorable book list.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Cornbread and Poppy by Matthew Cordell

July 27, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Cornbread and Poppy by Matthew Cordell
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: Children’s (6-8 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Cornbread LOVES planning. Poppy does not. Cornbread ADORES preparing. Poppy does not. Cornbread IS ready for winter. Poppy…is not. But Cornbread and Poppy are the best of friends, so when Poppy is left without any food for the long winter, Cornbread volunteers to help her out. Their search leads them up, up, up Holler Mountain, where these mice might find a new friend…and an old one. Celebrating both partnership and the value of what makes us individuals, young readers will find this classic odd-couple irresistible as they encounter relatable issues with humor and heart.

I am a nanny of a six-year-old girl who is going into first grade and we chose this book from the state reading list. We unknowingly saved the best for last. Cornbread and Poppy is a must read.

I’m not sure who loved this story more, me or the little girl that I read it to. This book is about procrastination. Something we all do at one point or another in our life. My son’s procrastination is the bane of my existence. We have a new saying in the house now thanks to this story. “Be a Cornbread not a Poppy!”.

Cornbread likes to be organized and prepared aka a “prepper”. In this situation it’s about having enough food to survive the winter. Poppy is a major procrastinator. She’ll do it “later”. Well, of course winter comes and Poppy isn’t prepared. What will she do? I’m all about natural consequences. It was her responsibility to prepare. I’m not sure I’d help her. Fortunately for Poppy, Cornbread is a good friend. He helps her to find food so she doesn’t starve. Where they found the food was the entertaining part of the story.

This story is a wonderful example of friendship, bravery, and humor. The ending had me groaning out loud and the little girl with me laughing out loud. She was quick to say, “Read it again!”. Oh, I read it several times before we returned it to the library. I think the little girl mostly enjoyed my reaction over Poppy. Of all the irresponsible things to do in life, procrastinating is the worst. I’m proud to be a cornbread.

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Her One in a Million by Rachelle Paige Campbell

July 25, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Her One in a Million by Rachelle Paige Campbell
Publisher: Anaiah Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Chamomile

While renovating the MacKinnon mansion, Samantha Holt discovers three prized ceramics in a wall. The one in a million find could provide much needed funds for the restoration—and her family’s struggling auction business. She calls a Chicago expert for a second opinion.

Zachary Reynolds arrives with his five-year-old daughter in tow, intending to leave with the vases immediately. Partly because the pottery won’t reach its six-figure potential in a small-town sale, but mostly because the ceramics will secure his job in an impending merger with a larger firm—and he needs that guaranteed stability for his daughter.

Sam and Zach both need the pottery for very personal reasons, but only one can emerge victorious. As they research the history of the pieces and the mansion, however, the best choice isn’t clear-cut. Add in romantic feelings neither of them expected and things become even more complicated. With the odds stacked against them, can they both achieve the financial and personal success they crave?

I love Rachelle Paige Campbell’s writing style and was thrilled to read this one! Her way with words makes the pages fly by and really brings the characters to life! Her One in a Million is no different, and I found it to be such a fun read!

Sam and Zach begin their story in an interesting way. After finding some highly valuable ceramic pots in the wall of a renovation project, both Samantha and Zachary think they know exactly what to do with them… Only, their ideas are on different sides of the spectrum, and only one can have their way.

I loved seeing them work through their issues as the story processes, and really liked the inclusion of the pottery history and a bit about home renovation that the author wove into the story. The details make the story stand out and made it an interesting and educational read in a way, which I found super cool! The story was a quick read and would be a great weekend read or something to take in vacation but is a great anytime read as well!

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

Bugs in My Hair! by David Shannon

July 25, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Bugs in My Hair! by David Shannon
Publisher: The Blue Sky Press
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

This book is guaranteed to make you laugh–and itch! From the opening picture of a happy, oversized louse appearing with his suitcases, you know these bugs are determined to stay, and Mom is about to go nuts! Nobody talks about them, but they are everywhere. (Some estimate 20 million children a year host them.) Oh the shame and humiliation of having bugs in your hair! But if you go to school, or have play dates, chances are good you might meet them someday. Maybe you already have! Lucky for you, the unwelcome bugs in this story are so funny you will be laughing aloud–even when Mom attacks them with battle-tested anti-lice weapons. Shannon peppers his hilarious scenes with fun, “nitpicking” facts about these “lousy” critters and pokes fun at common denial: “It’s probably ash from that volcano in Pogo Pogo. “Soon the party’s over–Bye bye, Little Nasties! Once again Shannon has created a fresh, highly entertaining read-aloud classic that begs to be read again and again.

Humor makes everything better…even lice.

I admired how much work Mr. Shannon put into making the itchy and embarrassing topic of head lice something fun. This is one of those topics that most people don’t even want to think about, much less turn into fodder for jokes. It takes a lot of creativity to make such a thing work, but he did a wonderful job of it!

It took me a little while to figure out the best age group for this tale. While the sarcasm in it will probably best be appreciated by older kids, the plot itself felt like it had a wide range of appeal due to the fact that people of all ages can catch head lice and be frustrated by the process of trying to get rid of those icky little creatures.

The ending made me laugh out loud. It fit the theme of this picture book perfectly, and it left lots of room for a sequel if one is ever written. I also enjoyed the way the author snuck in one last joke there for everyone who has had head lice or even been suspected of having it. Yes, I know I’m being vague here, but that final page is something every reader gets to be surprised by just like I was. It couldn’t have been better.

Bugs in My Hair! was a hilarious look at a serious subject.

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

Death Is Stupid by Anastasia Higginbotham

July 24, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Death Is Stupid by Anastasia Higginbotham
Publisher: Dottir Press
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Part of the Ordinary Terrible Things series, the new and expanded edition of Death Is Stupid is an invaluable tool for discussing death, exploring grief, and honoring the life of our loved ones.

When someone we love dies, adults often say things like, “She’s in a better place now,” or “I know how you feel.” You do not, one little boy thinks after his grandma passes away. Caught in the swirl of anger, confusion, and fear that accompanies grief and mourning, he doesn’t just think death is unfair—he thinks death is stupid. It takes him some time, but when he starts sharing cherished memories of his grandma and working in her garden, he starts to feel just a little bit better. Necessary, beautiful, and ultimately reassuring, Death Is Stupid helps make death a little less scary—for kids and adults.

The Ordinary Terrible Things series shows children who navigate trouble with their senses on alert and their souls intact. In these stories of common childhood crises, help may come from family, counselors, teachers, or dreams―but crucially, it’s the children themselves who find their way to cope and grow.

Everyone grieves differently.

Anger is something that I haven’t seen discussed in many picture books about grief. I adored the fact that it was included here. Sometimes losing a loved one can feel deeply unfair, and it can be difficult even for adults to handle the injustice of an early or tragic death on top of all of the other emotions that can be stirred up during the grieving process. The author did an excellent job of explaining such a complicated topic to kids who might feel embarrassed about some of their reactions to death.

Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that described silly things people say to someone who has lost someone they cared about. For example, telling a grieving person not to cry or that their relative is at peace now. I smiled and nodded along as the main character explained how these phrases can come across as irritating or hurtful instead of soothing. If only there had been a scene or two added with examples of what to say instead! The intentions behind these responses are good. I simply think that some folks don’t know what to say after a death and don’t realize how poorly their words can come across.

Ms. Higginbotham had a vivid imagination that worked perfectly well for this topic. This was my first experience reading one of her stories, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for what she comes up with next. She has a humorous and playful writing style that everyone should read for themselves.

Death Is Stupid was a refreshingly honest read.

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

Stick Cat: A Tail of Two Kitties by Tom Watson

July 21, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Stick Cat: A Tail of Two Kitties by Tom Watson
Stick Cat, book 1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Contemporary, Childrens (ages 6-12), Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

There’s a new pet in town: Stick Cat!

Perfect for fans of the Big Nate, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Timmy Failure, and Stick Dog books, Stick Cat features Tom Watson’s trademark combination of laughs, adventure, and hilarious stick-figure drawings.

It’s a big day in the big city for Stick Cat and his best friend, Edith. There are treasures to hunt, songs to sing, pigeons to catch, and naps to take. But way up on the twenty-third floor, danger lurks just around the corner. Terrible noises and violent crashes trap a desperate man in the building across the alley. Stick Cat will need to navigate his way across the alley—and around Edith’s peculiar ways—to attempt a rescue.

Stick Cat’s high-wire act is sure to please cat lovers and Stick Dog fans everywhere—even reluctant readers.

A brave cat and a big adventure with a friend.

Readers who like pictures with their story, but need more of a chapter book format will love this book. It’s cute, has adventure and a lesson to be learned – without being too bold about that lesson. The story moves along well and kept my attention. I’m sure it will for my younger reader friends, too.

Stick Cat likes to have playdates with his friend Edith. They play with cat toys and sleep and are cats. That’s what they do. They also listen to music played by Mr. Music in the piano building across the way. When an accident causes Mr. Music to get hurt, it’s up to Stick Cat to help save him. The way the story enfolds is fascinating and had me on the edge of my seat to know more. I mean, how was Stick Cat, on the 23rd floor, going to help Mr. Music? There are thrills, chills and it’s all fantastic. Plus, there’s a lesson in how to be a friend, how to work with your friend and that sometimes stepping outside of your comfort zone isn’t bad.

If you’re interested in cats, adventure and friendship, then this is the book for you. Give it a try!

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

Rebel Heart by Dani Petrone

July 21, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Rebel Heart by Dani Petrone
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Review by: Mistflower

Rebecca Prentice has always been the obedient daughter of a political figure. It’s hard being perfect―and boring. It’s time for a change. So, when her girlfriends plan to check out local bars using different personas, Rebecca calls herself Reb and goes looking for fun. But when she meets a bad-boy musician in a biker bar, she gets a lot more than she bargained for.

Mick has a secret. He doesn’t live on the wild side. However, if that’s what it takes to keep the beautiful and exciting Reb in his life, this straight-arrow tax attorney is ready to take her on the ride of her life.

But what happens when the truth comes out?

The synopsis is straight forward. My interest was sparked after I read it so if it intrigues you then try reading it for yourself. This romance was a fun read full of miscommunications, misunderstandings, and a few left-out details between the hero and the leading lady. I was pleased with the writing style because all too often romance stories with these types of conflicts can make me want to bang my head against the wall but not in this book. I was able to read this story pretty fast thanks to the character development, smooth pace and contemporary setting.

The heroine, Rebecca aka Reb, was entertaining when she was with her group of friends. They were relatable and well-developed characters. I’d love to read a book for each of Reb’s friends. They were kind, supportive and loyal friends. Reb is lucky to have caring parents as well. It was easy for me to like Rebecca and want to see her happily ever after.

The hero, Mick. Ooh la la. He was dreamy. When Mick and Reb got together, I had to lower the Air Conditioner. They were immediately attracted to each other, and their romance was sensual throughout the story.

There were a few interesting plot threads that came along that kept me turning the pages. One in particular had me feeling like Mick was a real hero as he saved Reb from danger. I think that is when Reb and I fell in love with him.

It was nice to read a story where the leading couple didn’t have any issues within themselves that had to be resolved before they could open their hearts to each other. It was a nice change of pace to only have misunderstandings and miscommunications to hurdle over.

I recommend bringing this book to the beach or pool while drinking a yummy cocktail. I hope you enjoy Rebel Heart as much as I did.

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

The Outlaw’s Claim by Brenda Jackson

July 19, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Outlaw’s Claim by Brenda Jackson
Westmoreland Legacy: The Outlaws Book 4
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Western, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

From friends to lovers to…

having a baby?

Maverick Outlaw is a man who knows his own mind—and he knew from the beginning that a fling with longtime friend Sapphire Bordella would be more than just sizzling, mind-blowing sex. That is, until Phire says they should go back to being just friends—and then announces that she’s pregnant with Maverick’s child and her father expects her to marry someone else! Maverick may not be ready to give his heart, but nothing will stop him from claiming what’s his…

From Harlequin Desire: A luxurious world of bold encounters and sizzling chemistry.

There’s love out there, if they’re willing to chase it.

I liked this story by Brenda Jackson. I’d had this author’s books recommended to me many times and finally took the leap. I’m glad I did. The story engrossed me right away and I had to know what would happen next. The writing is crisp and the characters vivid. This is the fourth book in the series, but I didn’t feel lost. In fact, I felt dropped in the middle and caught right up.

Phire, aka Sapphire, has been infatuated with Maverick for years, but she’s convinced he won’t love her. One night of passion leads to a blessed surprise. She was his friend, then it became something more…then didn’t. I liked the push-pull between the characters and the way they were both so determined not to accept their feelings. It made for great tension.

If you’re looking for a hot book that’s great for an afternoon (or two) reading, then check this one out. I’ll be looking for more in the Westmoreland series. You should, too.

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The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson

July 18, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson
An Agathas Novel
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure, YA (15+ yrs)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Last October, Alice Ogilvie’s ex-best friend, Brooke Donovan, was killed—and if it weren’t for Alice’s unlikely alliance with her tutor, Iris Adams, and her library of the complete works of Agatha Christie, the wrong person would almost certainly be sitting in prison for the crime. The Castle Cove police aren’t exactly great at solving crimes. In fact, they’re notorious for not solving crimes.

Which is why, on the night of Castle Cove High’s annual Sadie Hawkins dance, Alice takes the opportunity to explore Levy Castle—the site of one of Castle Cove’s most infamous deaths. Mona Moody—­the classic film star—died there almost a century ago, and Alice is pretty sure the police got that invest­igation wrong, too. But before she can even think about digging deeper, she walks right into the scene of a new crime. Rebecca Kennedy, on the ground in a pool of blood. And standing over Kennedy? Another one of Alice’s ex-friends—Helen Park.

The Castle Cove Police Department thinks it’s an open-and-shut case, but Alice and Iris are sure it can’t be that simple. Park isn’t a murderer—and the girls know all too well that in life, and in mysteries, things are rarely what they appear to be. To understand the present, sometimes you need to look to the past.

Castle Cove is full of secrets, and Alice and Iris are about to uncover one of its biggest—and most dangerous—secrets of all.

There’s something going down and it’s up to the Agathas to figure out what.

I loved the first book in this mystery series, The Agathas. I liked the inventiveness of two teen girls, totally opposites, being brought together by their love of Agatha Christie and solving mysteries. The first book had all the hallmarks of a great mystery–twists, turns and I couldn’t figure out the ending.

This book has many of the same hallmarks–there’s a mystery and intrigue, but I had a few issues with it. The characters seemed to sound a bit the same after a while. I liked that it’s told from Iris and Alice’s POVs, but they tended to sound the same. Now that’s not totally bad because best friends tend to talk alike after a while, but it made it hard to keep straight who’s POV I was in. I also had an issue with the sheer volume of characters. It took some work to keep them straight (Like it would in an Agatha Christie book).

The characters are good. Iris has some issues and Alice is a bit snobbish. I’d hoped Alice would help Iris a bit as Iris has been abused and needs someone to be there for her. I didn’t like that the issue of child abuse and the after-effects weren’t really handled. Iris just sort of bucked it up, but not very well. I also thought Alice regressed a bit and got snobbier through the book. I liked Iris, but I wanted to root for her and Alice, but it wasn’t always easy with Alice.

The mystery is good, but almost comes second to the bumbling of the police department. It’s like the girls should be the ones in charge and the PD should go back to school. I don’t know if that was intentional, but I wanted to see the cops respect the girls a bit more and for them to work a bit harder.

Still, this was a good book and those who like mysteries, it’ll satisfy. There are enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. Give this book a try.

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