Catastrophe in the Library by CeeCee James

December 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Catastrophe in the Library by CeeCee James
The Secret Library Cozy Mysteries, Book 3
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

A mysterious mansion, a suspicious death, and a cat too smart for its own good…Laura Lee and her secret book club, led by Hank the marmalade cat, find themselves in the heart of their deepest mystery yet! Laura Lee’s efforts to bring the beautiful but decrepit old manor back to life uncover even more secrets that the ancient house has been keeping from her. Hank, hiding from the workmen, gets himself stuck under a broken board. Rescuing him, Laura Lee finds not only a small root cellar, but a nearly intact skeleton holding a sheaf of papers. How long has it been there? Who was it? And why were those papers so important? It’s not just a lesson in history; someone who’s very much alive is trying to stop them from discovering the secret . It will take the entire book club’s help to discover the truth as every clue they find takes them in a different direction and puts them in unknown danger.

I have read several of Ceecee James books before, but it has been quite some time. This book, Catastrophe in the Library, is Book 3 of The Secret Library series. This book was as fun as the rest of the ones I read. The picture of a wonderful old Victorian house with secret passages and a skeleton in the walls set you back in time. Miss Janice, the owner, still has a full-time staff, even a wonderful wholesome lady in the kitchen addressed only as “cook”. But…the cell phones and laptops make sure you remember that you are in present day times. Somehow this mix of eras seems to fit. It isn’t a back-and-forth-in-time type of story. It’s a staff of today working in jobs in an old Victorian house. Somehow it all fit perfectly with me. I liked the picture of running to help cook get the table set and running back to your room to text someone.

As usual, the author has added enough clues in this cute cozy to make you wonder who the “bad guy” is, and her play with the dialog of the three young girls who are amateur sleuths is fun. It’s light and humorous and adds to the atmosphere of a cozy. I would tell you that this is a series not to miss, but all of the books I’ve read by CeeCee James are in a series not to miss.

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

Cybersafe for Humans – A Simple Guide to Keep You and Your Family Safe Online by Patrick Acheampong

December 9, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Cybersafe for Humans – A Simple Guide to Keep You and Your Family Safe Online by Patrick Acheampong
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Are you ready to protect your online life but don’t know where to start?

From keeping your kids and finances safe on the internet to stopping your sex toys from spying on you, Cybersafe For Humans gives you examples and practical, actionable advice on cybersecurity and how to stay safe online.

The world of cybersecurity tends to be full of impenetrable jargon and solutions that are impractical for individuals. Cybersafe For Humans will help you to demystify the world of cybersecurity and make it easier to protect you and your family from increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals.

If you think you’re secure online and don’t need this book, you REALLY need it!

Everyone could learn a little something about how to be safer online.

Some of my favorite passages were the ones that included lists of information about trustworthy websites, apps, security devices, and other helpful tools. This became even more true once I realized that Mr. Acheampong would share detailed reasons why he recommended them and what, if anything, he’d change about them if he could. It was exactly the sort of stuff I was hoping to find, and I have multiple pages bookmarked for future reference.

I was impressed by the breadth of information shared here. For example, I didn’t realize that filling out online quizzes or publicly sharing family photos can be incredibly dangerous. Other readers should discover for themselves why that is so and what they should do instead. These were only two examples of the many security tips the author shared that may not be common knowledge but should certainly be paid attention to when deciding what sorts of virtual activities to participate in and which ones to avoid.

Mr. Acheampong had a friendly and conversational writing style that pulled me into his book by the time I’d finished the first paragraph. He didn’t make a lot of assumptions about how much his readers already knew about cybersecurity, so he took the time to explain what various acronyms meant and how thieves use all sorts of tools, both technical and psychological, to trick people into clicking on suspicious links or sharing sensitive information. This was an especially good read for anyone who is comfortable surfing the internet on various devices but who maybe hasn’t thought about how it all works.

Cybersafe for Humans – A Simple Guide to Keep You and Your Family Safe Online was excellent.

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

The Coffee Lover’s Diet: Change Your Coffee, Change Your Life by Bob Arnot, M.D.

December 8, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Coffee Lover’s Diet: Change Your Coffee, Change Your Life by Bob Arnot, M.D.
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Improve your brain. Extend your life. Enhance your health. Discover the power of Polyphenols. Drop those extra pounds.

Dr. Bob Arnot, the bestselling author of The Aztec Diet, shows you how to use the power of America’s favorite drink—coffee—to achieve improved health, longevity, mental clarity and weight loss in this unique, groundbreaking wellness guide.

For years, we’ve been told that coffee was bad for our health. But new research reveals that, consumed properly, coffee can be the healthiest, tastiest part of your day. It can sharpen your focus, jumpstart your workout, help you lose weight, and even help fend off disease, from diabetes and liver disease to heart disease and Parkinson’s.

In this revolutionary handbook, Dr. Bob Arnot explains how coffee became a staple of the human diet, and reveals why having a cup is the best thing you can do each day. He also teaches you how to find the best beans from around the world and how to create the best brew and food pairings. The Coffee Lover’s Diet includes a full diet plan with corresponding recipes to ensure you get the full benefits of this miracle bean—in the right amounts and in a variety of ways—as well as tips for putting all of this invaluable information and advice to work to help you shed pounds, gain energy, and make the healthiest choices every day.

What if you discovered that one of your favorite drinks–coffee–could actually be good for you? Would this be inspiring? Dr. Bob Arnot has traveled the world in search of the best coffees. He has looked for not only quality, including excellent taste, but for other benefits as well.

Coffee is not all equal. Some is actually quite good for you. Arnot explains and gives evidence that one can enjoy a great-tasting coffee while also receiving health benefits. He talks of his experiences on coffee farms and in labs and offers plenty of charts with ratings. He discusses coffee equipment and water as well.

The book is entertaining and fun to read. As a bonus, the doctor gives readers plenty of delicious-sounding coffee-related recipes. Included are calorie counts. For those who want to take off a little weight, or even if not, this is a great book to check about and learn some surprising things about coffee.

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

Twelve Secrets of Christmas by Amelia Foster

December 8, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Twelve Secrets of Christmas by Amelia Foster
Publisher: Totally Bound
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

A workplace connection gets murky when the heir to the company is involved.

Leah Carson’s four-year relationship exploded on New Year’s Day and soured her toward all holiday-related activities. She no longer excessively decorated her home and office for Christmas, choosing the grinchy path instead. Working for a media outlet forces her into some semblance of holiday cheer, especially when the up-and-coming channel sets its sights on making a mark with a New Year’ s Eve special to rival all the standard offerings—something thrown into question when the host of the broadcast is put in jail, and Leah and her team are scrambling to fill the slot.

Brendan Lanza is heir to the throne of Lanza Broadcasting, but he has to earn his seat by learning every department within the company at his father’s orders. His term with the marketing team offers the unexpected bonus of getting to know Leah better. The respect his father holds for the woman becomes an understatement once Brendan sees how her clever brain easily handles issues, something only rivaled by the temptations her body creates in him.

But her less-than-festive spirit and the threat of losing their highly anticipated special lead Brendan to appoint himself as her Secret Santa, sending twelve anonymous gifts to Leah. Their office flirtation ramps up as Leah begins to receive presents from a secret admirer, creating a bit of conflict as she believes that she is torn between two men, and Brendan is left to decide if he’s betraying their blossoming bond by withholding the truth behind the packages she finds on her doorstep each night.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – or is it?

Leah received a crockpot instead of an engagement ring and, one week later, her 4-year relationship disintegrated too. Taking her broken heart to the extremes, Leah decided to take the Grinch path and refused to have anything to do with Christmas again. I did say it was an extreme reaction!

Brendan is the boss’ son, learning the ropes in every department. He loves Leah’s mind (as he frequently tells her once they get together) as well as her curves. His plan to restore her Christmas spirit is to send her Secret Santa gifts. Will he fess up once they get together though?

This was a fast-paced story with plenty of steamy scenes to keep you reading. I found this to be an enjoyable read so long as I suspended belief over Leah’s reactions, which I thought slightly incredulous! Still, it was a fun read that kept my attention from beginning to end.

The part about them both having conflict with the secret Santa presents wasn’t really conflict, in my opinion. I thought it all tied in nicely at the end.

A steamy seasonal read that I can recommend.

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

Cold Sanctuary by David J Gatward

December 7, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Cold Sanctuary by David J Gatward
Publisher: Weirdstone Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

A tragic farm accident… or so it seems. Can this former big-city detective defeat the human monsters lurking in the Yorkshire Dales?

DCI Harry Grimm’s happy emotions are confusing the hell out of him. Enjoying the company of his new girlfriend and furry black dog, the usually gruff detective finds himself feeling genuinely content for the first time in a very long while. But it’s soon back to business as usual when the idyllic countryside is rocked by the demise of a popular farmer in a horrific hay-baler accident.

After the coroner rules the mangled remains a homicide, Grimm sends his team out to follow clues that provoke more questions than answers. And as his officers drop like flies, the victim’s adopted son vanishes, and suspicious threats emerge, the justice-driven investigator vows he’ll restore peace and slam another killer behind bars.

Can he shed light on the darkest of sins before more lives are lost in the hills?

DCI Harry Grimm is called out to a local farm in what at first glance appears to be a farming accident gone horribly wrong. But the evidence quickly points to something far more sinister. The situation grows more complicated as tragedy strikes one of DCI Grimm’s own team members and all too soon, they realise the tensions boiling under the surface of their idyllic home are about to burst.

I’ve been really enjoying the DCI Harry Grimm series and found this to be one of the strongest additions yet. I feel Harry himself has really settled into both the countryside and his role leading the local police team. I love how tight knit the small team is and how the characters work so well together but each with their own distinct personalities. I also really enjoy how even though this is set well into the dales and countryside the problems and crime are both realistic but also utterly relatable. This is an exceptional blend I feel and really helps sell me on the series as a whole.

I also really enjoyed how while the plot was fairly straightforward from the start there were still a number of twists I didn’t foresee but the pace kept along at a good clip so at no stage did I feel the story was dragging. While the two main plots/cases did take up the lion’s share of the story I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the team work together and continue to grow. After the last few books – where there has been a lot of character growth in particular – it was nice for this to take somewhat of a back seat and the police procedure to once again come more to the forefront.

Readers should easily be able to pick this book up as a standalone story. The plots are well contained in this story and while the characters are a solid team and clearly have history together, I feel this doesn’t mean readers can’t pick this book up by itself and enjoy it on its own merits.

A strong mystery with interesting characters and a well woven plot. Recommended.

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

Fire & Ice Christmas by Megan Slayer

December 7, 2022 By 1 Comment


Fire & Ice Christmas by Megan Slayer
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Erotic Romance, Holiday, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

Holly, mistletoe, big fir trees… plus fire and ice?

When it comes to Christmas, Isla is vital. She’s the water elemental in control of creating Christmas snow and ice. She frosts the windows and adds the perfect bit of snow to the trees. But being a water elemental in control of ice makes romance difficult. She can’t get close to anyone without putting on the big freeze. She needs the perfect man to balance her ice with a little heat.

Enter Fieren. The fire elemental knows she’s his counterpart, but they haven’t always gotten along. This Christmas he’s determined to forge a connection with Isla and make this chance last far beyond the holidays.

Magic happens at Christmas, and Fieren wants to make this one a holiday for the ages.

Fire and Ice make for the perfect Christmas.

This is a short but sweet story that basically takes place over a couple of days. Isla is the water elemental who is usually in charge of the decorations for the elves’ Christmas party. Fieren is a fire elemental who dreams of Christmas on a beach.

I loved how these two balanced each other out, in more ways than one. It does move quickly–the characters going from nothing to declaring forever love, but it was a sweet Christmas story that made me smile.

If you’re looking for a holiday-themed coffee break book, then I can definitely recommend this one.

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

Little Mole Finds Hope by Glenys Nellist

December 6, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Little Mole Finds Hope by Glenys Nellist
Publisher: Beaming Books
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When Little Mole is feeling sad in his dark, underground home, his mother shows him how to look for hope. He finds that signs of spring are everywhere, from the daffodil bulbs under the soil to the tiny buds on the branches above. Hope can be found–even in the darkest places.

In Little Mole Finds Hope, best-selling children’s author Glenys Nellist and illustrator Sally Garland tell an endearing story sure to lift the spirits of people emerging from the cold of winter or a challenging season of life and inspire them to look for signs that spring will come again.

A little kindness can go a long way.

Little Mole was such a sweet and relatable main character. Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that showed how sad he was on that chilly winter afternoon and how far away spring felt to him. Not only was this a good representation of the difficult days everyone goes through at times, it would also be a great jumping off point to describe specific illnesses like seasonal or non-seasonal depression to kids who might be experiencing them or know someone who is. I appreciated the versatility here as it meant that a wider range of people could find something to connect to as Little Mole learned his lesson.

The multiple layers of meaning in this tale made it one of those rare picture books that I’d be just as eager to recommend to older kids and adults as I would to the preschoolers and early elementary students it was originally written for. I love it when writers speak to so many different audiences at once while still remaining true to their characters and plot. This isn’t easy to pull off, but it has convinced me to keep an eye out for everything else Ms. Nellis has already written or will write in the future.

I was also impressed by Little Mole’s warm relationship with his mother. She affirmed his sadness while also encouraging him to take a second look at the assumptions he was making about the world around him. Scary thoughts don’t always tell the truth, after all, and there is something to be said for challenging them when there’s evidence that contradicts them. Her love and compassion for him made me wish for a sequel all about her. I adored her!

Little Mole Finds Hope was perfect.

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

Daddy’s Secret by M.C. Roth

December 6, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Daddy’s Secret by M.C. Roth
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Moonflower

If only you were mine… If only you needed a Daddy to look after you.

This Christmas promises to be the loneliest of Sullivan’ s life and he’ s set to brave the season alone until he receives an amazing, yet heartbreaking, Secret Santa gift that was inspired by his best friend’ s pen pal, Lincoln.

What starts as a thank-you letter to Lincoln soon becomes more as Sullivan finds himself drawn to a man he’ s never met— a man who somehow seems to know him. The problem is, Sullivan needs a friend more than he needs a hookup, so he pretends to be married, taking an intimate relationship out of the equation.

Soon pen and paper aren’ t enough, and he writes his phone number in his next letter, hoping that Lincoln will call him. When Lincoln finally does, Sullivan’ s breath catches at the sound of his voice. When Sullivan pretends that his fake husband is away on a business trip, Lincoln invites himself over for a Christmas movie marathon.

Beside each other on the small couch, the lines begin to blur and Sullivan curses himself for pretending to be married. But maybe he’ s not the only one with a secret.

The best intentions can lead to secrets!

Sullivan is a big-hearted teddy bear who has recently lost his parents. During the ‘Secret Santa’ at work, his best friend presents him with a gift he never expected from her. Samantha admits that her pen-pal actually came up with the idea. Sullivan writes to Lincoln to thank him, and there we go…

This was a sweet and charming story that has some steamy scenes but low angst. I loved how the relationship between Sullivan and Lincoln grew. It made a nice change to read about a boy who isn’t a twink too! Sullivan tries to tell Lincoln on more than one occasion about his ‘husband’ but is unable to finish his confession because of one thing or another (usually Lincoln talking too much!) The list of Christmas movies made me chuckle!

All in all, a great, cozy story to warm the cockles of your heart! Absolutely recommended by me.

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

The Christmas Wish Knotts by Avis M. Adams

December 5, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Christmas Wish Knotts by Avis M. Adams
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Holiday
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Sif is nothing like her namesake–the strong Norse goddess and wife of Thor. She still reels from the trauma of being left at the altar. When Dr. Roger sublets a condo at the Cliff Edge Condos, she is immediately drawn to his dark eyes and warm smile, but how can she trust him after what her ex-fiancé did? She prefers her view of Puget Sound and cat Mr. Martini to the fear of rejection. Her ex-fiancé left her scarred. But can the good doctor heal her wounds?
With the help of the condo HOA president, the Quatre Hens, and Nanc, Sif finds herself surrounded by friends who seem more like enemies to her peace and quiet. But with the magic of Roger’s charms, the Christmas season, and her ever-changing cookie recipe, will the Wedding Knotts turned Good Luck Knotts, turned Christmas Wish Knotts bring Sif the miracle she is hoping for?

If you are looking for a quick, sweet romance to read that puts the ‘happy’ into the happily ever after, then give this story a try. There’s no stressful angst or contrived overdramatic melodrama, just a tale about a nice cookie-baking teacher who was jilted at the alter and now must find her way back into trusting another man that seems too good to be true. Are all good-looking guys narcissistic users? No, and Dr. Roger is going to prove that to Sif. Somehow.

I say somehow, because this book is told only from the point of view of the heroine, Sif, short for Sifjar. It’s her thoughts, decisions, actions and dialogue, both internal and external, that show readers the progression of her journey from jilted bride to a hopeful woman willing to take a second chance at love. It’s Roger’s actions that show the heroine and reader just how smitten he is, how considerate and patient he is as he navigates Sif’s skittish ways. The story shows him as being attentive, caring and thoughtful. He’s not a wuss though. As with a lot of romance book themes with heroes or heroines being jilted at the altar, the ex makes an appearance to muck things up. That is when readers see another side of the good doctor – the hero.

This story is cute, and well written. The only contrary thing I noticed was the pacing. It’s not slow or bogged down – it’s actually quite brisk. It’s the choppiness of the telling. At times it’s abrupt, and jumpy, but it always moves forward towards the goal, lending the story that brisk pace I mentioned. Every now and again I felt a little lost during the transition but other than that, I liked the story, the characters, the romance and the delightful and wonderful holiday themed wrap-up that made me feel the warm and fuzzies.

The blurb mentions the Quatre Hens, and Nanc. Nanc is easy to explain, she’s Sif’s best friend, but the Quatre Hens need to be experienced in order to understand their relationship with the heroine. They are quite the personalities and they both hinder and help with the romance between Roger and Sif. They mean well though and I think, in their own way, they’re like adopted family. They are fun and sweet and give advice whether it’s wanted or not. Sounds like family, doesn’t it?

The Christmas Wish Knotts is a good read with plenty to recommend it. If you are looking for a light holiday themed romance, then this book is a splendid choice.

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

Deep, Deep, Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench by Lydia Lukidis

December 5, 2022 By 1 Comment


Deep, Deep, Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench by Lydia Lukidis
Publisher: Capstone
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Deep, deep down, at the very bottom of the ocean, lies a secret world. Through lyrical narration, this spare-text STEM picture book takes readers on a journey to a place very few humans have ever been–the Mariana Trench. The imagined voyage debunks scary myths about this mysterious place with surprising and beautiful truths about life at Earth’s deepest point. Deep, Deep Down shows a vibrant world far below, and teaches readers how interconnected our lives are to every place on the planet.

Let some of the mysteries of the ocean be revealed!

Surviving in such an extreme environment isn’t easy. I was intrigued by the many different adaptations the fish and other animals in the Mariana Trench had evolved in order to withstand things like limited food supplies and heavy underwater pressure. These were some of the most educational and descriptive lines of the tale. I could easily imagine exactly what the author was talking about, and it made me want to dive even deeper into this subject.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about this picture book was the deep respect it held for nature and other living beings. Whether it was describing specific creatures who live in the Mariana Trench or discussing how dark and freezing cold it is there, the narrator always spoke gently of the topics at hand and gave them the attention they deserved. There was no need to sensationalize what’s down there because the truth was more than incredible enough on its own.

What happens on the surface or in shallower waters trickles down to life at the bottom of the ocean. I should leave the specifics of that up to other readers to discover for themselves, but I can say that I learned a few new things about how connected we all are on this fragile planet. It’s amazing to think that one decision or event can echo so far through the food chain, yet that is exactly what happens every single day.

Deep, Deep, Down: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench was a lyrical read that I’d heartily recommend to kids and adults alike.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »