I Know What UFO Did Last Summer by Kevin Garone

March 12, 2025 By Leave a Comment


I Know What UFO Did Last Summer by Kevin Garone
Publisher: Temor Press
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The alien invasion is upon us! At least, that’s what twelve-year-old Marv thinks when a mysterious craft appears in the woods behind his house. If there’s one thing he’s learned from his trusty alien invasion guidebook, it’s that ETs are just as likely to land in your backyard as they are on the front lawn of the White House.

A plot to take over the planet is the only logical explanation for what’s going on. Why else would a suited pilot chase Marv and his friends through the woods? What else could explain the creepy leech-like creatures attached to the hull of the ship? As if that wasn’t enough, the recently moved-in next-door neighbor girl and her dad seem to be directly connected to the alien conspiracy.

The National Guard won’t take his calls seriously. His family thinks he’s making everything up. Marv and his friends are on their own if they want to stop the invaders from Pluto-unless that mysterious red pickup truck that keeps driving by is somehow involved in all this, too.

But Marv is wrong. The threat is real, but the aliens aren’t. And getting mixed up with the wrong people might still result in an abduction…

Aliens are full of surprises.

One of the reasons why I enjoy reading the middle grade genre so much has to do with the differences between how kids and adults can interpret the same experience. Mr. Garone tapped into this in order to give the audience multiple explanations for why certain things happened, and it made me chuckle to take note of how Marv and his friends understood those events versus what the average adult would probably say about them.

It would have been helpful to have more character development, especially for Marv. His interest in aliens was so strong that it sometimes overshadowed everyone else’s interests. There was a thought-provoking scene later in which another character confronted him for expecting his hobby to always be put first that I wish had been given more time to grow. Marv could be a little selfish at times even if he didn’t always realize he was coming across that way. If this had been explored more, I would have happily gone for a full five-star rating.

The plot twists in this book were imaginative and exciting. It was difficult for this reader to find good places to stop when I needed to go do something else for a while due to how often these revelations made me look at the characters in new ways. What an excellent problem to have! Every scene propelled things forward in some way, and I was surprised more than once by what Marvin, Nora, and Jace didn’t see coming.

I Know What UFO Did Last Summer made me wish for a sequel!

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

Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey

March 11, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Love and Other Paradoxes by Catriona Silvey
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Cambridge University, 2005: Student Joe Greene scribbles verses in the margins of his notebook, dreaming of a future where his words will echo through the ages, all while doubting it could ever happen.

Then, the future quite literally finds him—in the form of Esi. She’s part of a time-traveling tour, a trip for people in the future to witness history’s greatest moments firsthand. The star of this tour? Joe Greene. In Esi’s era, Joe is as renowned as Shakespeare. And he’s about to meet Diana, a fellow student and aspiring actress, who will become his muse and the subject of his famous love poems.

But Esi is harboring a secret. She’s not here because she idolizes Joe—actually, she thinks his poetry is overrated. Something will happen at Cambridge this year that will wreck Esi’s life, and she’s hell-bent on changing it. When Esi goes rogue from her tour, she bumps into Joe and sends his destiny into a tailspin. To save both their futures, Esi becomes Joe’s dating coach, helping him win over Diana. But when Joe’s romantic endeavors go off-script—and worse, he starts falling for Esi instead—they both face a crucial question: Is the future set in stone, or can we pen our own fates?

Catriona Silvey’s Love and Other Paradoxes is a captivating exploration of love, ambition, and the intricacies of human relationships set against the backdrop of early 2000s Cambridge. The novel follows Joe Greene, a poet who becomes entangled in a surreal twist of fate when he encounters Esi, a mysterious young woman who helps him navigate the complexities of love and success.

From the outset, Silvey crafts an engaging narrative that pulls the reader in with its unique premise. The introduction of Joe’s future success book of poems serves as a clever plot device, creating a palpable tension as he grapples with the notion of love dictated by the demands of his future. Esi emerges as a compelling character, providing not only support but also a moral compass as Joe struggles with his feelings for Diana, the woman he believes will fulfill his poetic destiny. Their friendship is beautifully developed, and the chemistry between them adds depth to the story.

The pacing of the novel is brisk, ensuring that readers remain engaged throughout the twists and turns of Joe’s journey. Silvey deftly weaves themes of friendship, success, family, and the often-paradoxical nature of love, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences and the sometimes-contradictory motivations behind their choices. While the character of Diana is intentionally less likable than others, this adds to the complexity of Joe’s predicament, highlighting the often-unglamorous truths of romantic pursuits.

One of the strengths of Silvey’s writing is her ability to create well-rounded characters who are relatable and flawed, making their journeys feel authentic. The surprises that unfold keep the narrative lively, and the satisfying conclusion ties together the various threads of the story while leaving some questions open to interpretation.

Overall, Love and Other Paradoxes is an entertaining read that will resonate with anyone who has ever grappled with the intersection of love and ambition. Silvey’s exploration of the multifaceted nature of love makes for a thoughtful and engaging story that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. This novel is a testament to the idea that while love can be fraught with complications, it is also an essential part of the human experience. Highly recommended for readers looking for a blend of romance and philosophical inquiry, it earns a solid 4 stars.

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

Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction by Shannon Richard

March 6, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction by Shannon Richard
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Holiday
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cholla

Lucy Buchanan and Theo Taylor have never gotten along…like ever. Not when they were children, not when they were teenagers, and definitely not as adults…though that last part might be more Lucy’s doing than Theo’s. It was the summer after she graduated college when their antagonism towards each other boiled over into something… hot.

That is until Lucy left town in a flash, leaving everything behind for warm Los Angeles. But now she’s returned after seven years following a bad breakup, and a newfound disillusionment with La-La Land.

As for Theo, he doesn’t know and doesn’t care about whatever happened to make Lucy come back. His lingering resentment is enough to keep her at arm’s length until she inevitably leaves again. The problem is, being around each other has proven that their friction isn’t going anywhere, especially when it leads to some pretty intense heat.

The two have no idea what they’ve rekindled, but things get even more complicated when they rescue a pregnant dog together, taking on joint responsibility of caring for her.

Lucy and Theo must find a way to overcome their past, first for the sake of the dog and her litter, and for their own wounded hearts.

What do you do when your second chance at love interferes with your need to be anywhere but here? That’s the question Lucy Buchanan is trying to answer before she falls any more helplessly in love with Theo Taylor.

Lucy Buchanan is back home again, itching for the school semester to end so she can jet off to wherever her whim might take her. No one can understand why she wants to bolt, but deep inside, Lucy’s fighting her past, trying to get as far away from it as she can, even despite her growing feelings for Theo. While running from your past isn’t the best option, I do understand Lucy’s need to do exactly that. There’s a lot of pain in her past, and being home only brings it that much closer to the surface.

Theo Taylor has been doing his thing, baking the town’s most sought-after pastries, and trying to forget he ever met Lucy Buchanan. Her return home throws him into chaos, not knowing whether he should forgive her or continue to treat her like the enemy. His reluctance to fully give in is understandable, considering she ran off on him the last time they were together. Theo’s a great character. His love of baking, coupled with the way he is with his much younger sister really made me love him.

Bear is the lynchpin that holds Theo and Lucy together. When they discover this poor, scraggly dog and discover she’s pregnant, they decide to join forces and bring the puppies into the world safely. But the question still hovers over them – what happens next? Is this it for them or could there be a chance for something more?

Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction is a super cute holiday romance that will tug at the hearts of softies everywhere. I’m a huge animal lover and the idea of a pregnant dog out wandering in the cold alone nearly did me in. I discovered this morning that this is actually the second in this series, which makes me happy because I really want to know more about this fantastic group of friends. The first in the series is going onto my list, and I’m hoping there might be a third in the works as well.

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

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb

March 4, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor, Heather Webb
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Historical, Holiday, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cholla

December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue the tradition of her late father’s Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must evolve with the times, and the queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change.

As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—are unexpectedly reunited by the occasion. Olive, a single mother and aspiring reporter at the BBC, leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, but even a chance encounter with the queen doesn’t go as planned and Olive wonders if she will ever be taken seriously.

Jack, a recently widowed chef, reluctantly takes up a new role in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. Lacking in purpose and direction, Jack has abandoned his dream to have his own restaurant, but his talents are soon noticed and while he might not believe in himself, others do, and a chance encounter with an old friend helps to reignite the spark of his passion and ambition.

As Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmases, they grow ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret that threatens to destroy everything.

Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, there is one final gift for the Christmas season to deliver…

When two old friends reunite after years apart, anything can happen. But will Jack and Olive be able to put the past behind them?

Christmas with the Queen is a love story stretching over the course of several years, showing that, even when you’re willing, the universe isn’t always going to play nice. But when it’s meant to be, love can and will find a way.

In an effort to distract himself from the sudden, tragic loss of his wife, Jack accepts an offer to cook for the royal family during their annual Christmas trip to Sandringham. Jack’s love of cooking and honoring his Louisiana heritage appealed to me in a big way. I loved him introducing jambalaya and other Creole treats to the English. Made me wish I could see their faces the first time they dipped into the spicy fare.

Olive is also trying to distract herself, but for different reasons. She’s always wanted to be a journalist, but in 1952, the jobs were rarely, if ever, offered to women. But she keeps trying, pushing whenever she finds an opportunity. Trying to balance the stigma of being an unmarried mother in the 1950’s with her ambitions, she manages to find a way to both follow her dreams and be the best mom she’s able to be.

While the love story is a very slow burn, it’s worth it. I enjoyed watching Jack and Olive reacquaint themselves, instead of just hopping into bed together and acting like there wasn’t a gap of several years between their last meeting. Seeing them rebuild their friendship before becoming a couple always gives me the warm fuzzies. Probably my favorite part of the book, however, were the little snippets we get from Queen Elizabeth’s point of view. Also, the bits from her annual Christmas address, something I didn’t know she did.

Christmas with the Queen is a sweet and sometimes sad holiday romance, spanning several Christmases. A great read for any lover of historical romances, holiday romances, or anything to do with the royal family.

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

Movie Review: Nosferatu

March 3, 2025 By Leave a Comment



Nosferatu
Writers: Robert Eggers, Henrik Galeen, Bram Stoker
Director: Robert Eggers
Starring: Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, Bill Skarsgard
Publisher: Focus Features, Universal Pictures
Genre: dark fantasy, supernatural horror, vampire horror, horror
Rating 4 stars (8 stars on IMDB)
Review by Cholla

A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.

Vampires have fascinated me since I was a kid.  I often say it all started with Count von Count on Sesame Street and spiraled out of control from there.  When I saw there was a new version of Nosferatu coming to the big screen, I knew it was something I needed to see.

The cinematography is simply amazing.  Beautiful landscapes, creepy old castle rooms, just everything is so well shot and lighted.  You can feel the difference when the scenes shift between life as usual in Wisburg and the ominous foreboding of Count Orlok’s castle.

In addition, the acting is excellent.  Lily-Rose Depp’s fear and helplessness are palpable, especially when she awakes from one of her many nightmares.  The possession scenes are terrifying as you can see and feel her helplessness in the grip of the mysterious Orlok.  Bill Skarsgard’s portrayal of Orlok is creepy, giving the character a real presence in every scene.  My favorite, however, was Willem Dafoe as the professor.  He’s both highly intelligent and completely nutty in this role, and it works so well.

While I know that the original Nosferatu was an unauthorized adaptation of Dracula, I was still surprised by how much it borrowed from the original source material.  In that sense, it made Nosferatu feel very familiar, while still being different enough to hold my attention.  The main difference is that in Dracula, you have a solid and driving plot.  Which is something that Nosferatu lacked.  There is a story there, and it’s enjoyable on its own, but it’s not as fully realized as it could have been.  However, the excellent acting and filming techniques are enough to make up for the more basic plot, in my opinion.

Nosferatu is a new and exciting take on an old classic.  It’s very atmospheric and creepy, although not scary.  I’d recommend it to any lover of vampire lore.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , , ,

A Quiet Man by Tom Wood

February 26, 2025 By Leave a Comment


A Quiet Man by Tom Wood
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

One day a man arrives in town. Unassuming. Quiet.

The assassin known as Victor is hiding out in a small motel in Canada after a job across the border. A few days laying low and he’ll be gone and leave no trace behind.

He doesn’t count on getting to know a mother and her boy who reminds him of his own troubled childhood. When both vanish, only Victor seems to notice.

Once he starts looking for them, he finds himself at odds with the criminals who own the town. They want him gone. Only Victor’s going nowhere until he discovers the truth and to them he’s just a quiet man asking the wrong questions.

But that quiet man is a dangerous man.

Spending only a day or two across the border laying low after the successful completion of a job, Victor finds himself making a simple – though highly unusual – promise to a young boy. Agreeing to meet again at dawn to show the young man how to fish, Victor is perturbed when neither the boy nor his mother arrive. Curious, Victor looks for them in the small, quiet little border town. What should have proved very straight-forward quickly turns complicated and soon is extremely messy. Can Victor extract himself safely?

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series but found this book in particular to be even more exceptional than I had been expecting. Unlike many series, these books all very much stand alone – Victor usually severing all ties before quickly moving on and almost never leaving anyone behind him. So these books can absolutely be read out of order if a reader wants to. What I found particularly pleasing and different about this book was the fact the job Victor was hired to do was pretty much over and finished before the book really even began. This book is all about happenstance and the decisions we make after the main event and so that is quite different to the other books of this author’s that I’ve read.

Something else I really enjoyed was most of the characters and plots in this book are around fairly normal level criminals. They’re people we can see and relate to and understand. They’re not really of Victor’s usual caliber of enemy. That said, there are a large number of different people, circling around in different plots, all currently focused on Victor for varying reasons. So with enough people coming from enough different angles even though by themselves they might not be a threat, Victor is definitely kept on his toes and it made for a highly gripping read to me.

Readers should be aware this isn’t a cosy mystery or a simple read. While definitely not horror or overly gory, neither does the author shy away from the multiple fight scenes nor the ramifications of these altercations. Readers who prefer police procedural style of mysteries or more puzzle/thinking style of plots might find this a little too action orientated and a little too visceral at times for their tastes.

With a definite anti-hero in Victor and a slightly different take on the “assassin tries to do a good thing” style of plotline, this was a great read and one I shall absolutely enjoy re-reading again in the future. Recommended.

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

Movie Review: 28 Days Later

February 24, 2025 By 2 Comments

28 Days Later by Writer Alex Garland
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, and Christopher Eccleston
Publisher: Fox Searchlight Pictures (through 20th Century Fox)
Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars (8 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Astilbe

Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the United Kingdom, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.

In anticipation of 28 Years Later being released later on this year, let’s see if fast zombies are scarier than the slow ones.

The opening scenes were among the scariest ones I’ve ever watched in this genre. Imagine waking up in the hospital, meeting a zombie a short while later, but having no clue what you’re dealing with! I was grateful to have started watching while the sun was still shining brightly outside because my heart was pounding as Jim had to outrun something that still didn’t make any sense to him. This is a theme that has been repeated multiple times in other zombie flicks, and yet it still grabs my attention every time.

One of the things I liked the most about this film was how clearly the origins of this outbreak were explained in the beginning. No, not every twist and turn was revealed, but there was more than enough information to understand what sort of illness the characters were dealing with and how it managed to spread so fast when the source of it was under such tight surveillance…or so the authorities thought.

Take note of these early moments because the information in them might very well come in handy later on. That, too, was exciting because it gave me something to puzzle over while also watching the characters run from one danger and, sometimes, straight into yet another situation that isn’t exactly what it appeared to be at first glance.

I would have liked to see more attention paid to the character development. No, I didn’t need monologues or anything, especially given how action-packed this was, but I found myself accidentally blending the main characters together in my mind because of how similarly they reacted to the same threats. Knowing more about the backstories of protagonists who aren’t named Jim would have helped me to keep them separate and connect to them on a deeper level.

The ending fit the characters and plot nicely, and that’s something I’m saying as a viewer who was a little confused by it at first due to how much the storyline needed to slow down in order for things to pan out. After an hour and a half of adrenaline surges, I needed a little time to adjust and try to figure out what might happen to the characters next. With that being said, it was worth the wait and made me eager to see 28 Weeks Later next which I will be reviewing here in the near future.

28 Days Later breathed fresh air into this genre and it something every zombie fan should watch.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Little Mouse’s Sweet Treat by Shana Hollowell

February 20, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Little Mouse’s Sweet Treat by Shana Hollowell
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Little Mouse goes on an adventure in search of something sweet. He meets friends along the way that share their preferred treats with him, but none are quite right for Little Mouse. He is disappointed until he arrives home and realizes his Mommy baked the sweetest treat just for him – cookies!

Everyone needs a treat sometimes.

I loved how tailored this was to its audience. It used repetition and gentle rhymes to give little ones clues about what would happen next as it talked about something that most children are excited to enjoy now and again: sweets! Picture books work best when they pay such close attention to what kids like in my opinion. When they can make good guesses about what might happen next, it’s easy to keep them interested in turning to the next page.

There were a couple of places where the rhymes felt a little off-balance to me due to some pages having longer sentences than others did. While I didn’t expect them all to be exactly equal, it would have flowed better if they had been more similar to each other. This is a minor criticism of something I otherwise thought was adorable.

Not everyone likes the same things, of course, so one of the exciting moments happened as the little mouse realized that his idea of the perfect dessert didn’t necessarily match what others were looking for. It makes me happy to read books that encourage readers of all ages to think about the world from other points of view and treat their friends and neighbors with kindness and respect. The more examples we have on how to do this, the better.

Little Mouse’s Sweet Treat couldn’t have been a better introduction to Ms. Hollowell’s work for me. What a fun adventure it was. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

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

Little Aiden – A Big Kid Book for Toddlers by Albert Choi

February 13, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Little Aiden – A Big Kid Book for Toddlers by Albert Choi
Publisher: Mytogo Publishing
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Join Little Aiden on an exciting journey as he transforms from a tiny tot into a daring adventurer! Bursting with curiosity, he’s eager to conquer the world solo. As Aiden grows, he embraces the role of a big kid, confident and ready to take on the world with newfound independence. This heartwarming story of growth and discovery is perfect for family story time.

Big kids get to do so many more things!

One of the things I appreciate most about this series is that it was written in plain, simple language to appeal to toddlers. There is no additional layer of meaning included for adults, and while I also enjoy picture books who take that approach it was refreshing to see the world from a little boy’s perspective who was just beginning to understand why his parents did certain things. Childhood logic is wonderful, and it’s what makes these tales so much fun to read.

I would have liked to see more time spent exploring the consequences of Aiden’s choices. Whether he was being naughty, helpful, curious, or silly, there was space here for him to talk about what he was doing and why he was doing it. If that had happened, I would have happily chosen a five-star rating as his adventures are adorable.

What a gentle story this was. Aiden’s parents were patient and loving with him no matter what was happening in their lives. This included a few amusing scenes of the main character getting into mischief the moment he was left alone. I laughed as I learned about the silly things he did now that he was able to climb and reach higher places than he ever had before. What a true glimpse this was of how toddlers slowly change into preschoolers.

This is the third instalment in a series that can be read in any order.

Little Aiden – A Big Kid Book for Toddlers made me smile.

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

Days Like Shadows Pass by MS Morris

February 11, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Days Like Shadows Pass by MS Morris
Publisher: Landmark Media
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Myth. Mystery. Murder.
DCI Tom Raven’s hopes for a few quiet days with his daughter, Hannah, are shattered when a shocking murder plunges him into a macabre mystery in the nearby coastal town of Whitby.

In the hallowed grounds of the ruined abbey, a man lies lifeless: drained of blood and marked by the symbol of a dragon.

As rumours of a vampire-like killer echo through Whitby’s cobbled streets and his own daughter becomes entwined in the town’s dark legends, Raven is forced to play a twisted game of life and death, navigating a deadly maze of myth, mystery and murder.

DCI raven has finally managed to take some well-earned leave and he’s excited his daughter, Hannah is finally able to come and visit him. Only a bizarre case drops in the lap of his team and Raven’s boss insists he take the lead. A local Goth festival has the small coastal town crammed with tourists and costume wearing visitors. One of the regulars has been murdered by having all his blood drained. Can DCI Raven and his team figure out what’s going on?

I’ve been enjoying this Yorkshire series and this book in particular was an excellent addition. I found the murder mystery interesting and complicated enough to really hold onto my attention. All the regular police team characters were there but I found Raven’s daughter, Hannah, to be an excellent addition. Young and interesting but also not really a member of the team I enjoyed her input and felt her character really added a fresh and different twist to the story. I also really enjoyed her open mindedness and hope we might see more of her in some of the future books.

Readers who like British police procedural mysteries should find this an excellent book and not be too worried by the slower pace of the plot. Personally, I find the knottier mystery plots and slower pace complicated enough to maintain my interest and this style of smaller town setting a real bonus in the stories. I’m looking forward to the next in this series.

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