Tag Archives: book

Solstice Blessed by Crystin Goodwin

Now, don’t get all run around the house in your undies screaming excited, this isn’t a new novel. But, by all means, get a little bit jumpy up and down excited because this is two short stories about a few favorite characters during their holiday season. 

The stories are cute, fun and holiday themed, just what the book doctor ordered for December reading.

Would I recommend it? If you are a fan of the Blessings of Myrillia Series you should certainly read these too! And if you are any kind of young adult fantasy book lover and haven’t yet been exposed to Myrillia I recommend putting Unblessed on your Christmas wish list straight away!

Book Doctors should be a thing. “Ahh Mrs. Pumpernickel, You’ve sprained your ankle, ice and elevate until you’ve read all of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and you should be as good as new.” or “It’s alright little Patsy Pipsqueak, you just have the flu. Drink lots of fluids and read Yesterday’s Doll by Cora Taylor, and you’ll be just fine.” And then doctors’ offices and pharmacy’s would have libraries and books stores attached to them and life would be so much better. Yes, I’ve convinced myself, book doctors should totally be a thing. 

An Off-Piste Christmas by Julie Houston

Lets just start off with a definition of “off-piste” because I’ll admit I had no idea what the title of this book (novella really) was referring to.

Google to the rescue!

off-piste

adjective & adverb   SKIING
  1. away from prepared ski runs.
    “challenging expanses of off-piste skiing”
    • so as to deviate from what is conventional, usual, or expected.
      “on this occasion I went off-piste and booked in at The Griffin, a place none of us had ever visited before.”

I know there are people out there who always want their books to be really realistic and not all convenient with enough happily ever afters to go around.

I’m totally not that person.

I like happy endings, I like Christmas, I like this book (err- novella).

Actually, I love Christmas but it is also the part of the year that we spend lots of time with our family. Time where you look around and think that they are all crazy and you wonder how anything, much less everything is going to work out. (Sorry family.)

But then! Then, you read a book like this fine novella and think- “Well, her daughter is dating her best friend’s previous lover and father of her baby and they are all going on a fancy schmancy Christmas skiing trip in Italy together, even though she hates skiing and it all works out for them,” my totally normal family will be fine.

Would I recommend it? It’s goofy and funny and crazy and scandalous and *spoiler alert* ends happily. While I know there are scrooges out there who don’t approve of such things, I thought it was an excellent quick (Did I mention it was a novella? You can totally fit in in your reading schedule this month!) Christmas read!

Rosie's Book Review team 1

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!

The Prince’s Son by Deborah Jay

The Prince’s Son is, of course, the sequel to The Prince’s Man.

I read The Prince’s Man last year and found it to be a solid book:

“This newly created world is firm, there are no gaps or jumps of reasoning. One creature, idea, magic or bit of history flows right into the next. Characters that appear substantial at the beginning of the book do nothing but grow and evolve as their backstory unfolds behind them.

This is solidly written fantasy tale.” -myself on The Prince’s Man last year

This sequel, built as it was on such a solid foundation, continued to impress me.

The first book was very much a web of spies and lies and political maneuvering that really had me hooked. In this book what struck me was the character growth.  I loved the way the characters from the previous book grew between books and how the whiny lady at the beginning (that I could barely stand reading about) turned into the character than I’m most excited to read about in the next book. While there is a precedent in fantasy for the original whinging characters to turn into fantastic heroes by the end, it’s a trend that can feel forced enough to be questionable. Not in this book. When you build your characters with a backstory and foundation as solid as Deborah Jay has, their growth and change isn’t something to wonder over but something to enjoy!

Would I recommend it? The Prince’s Son can be read as a stand alone, you don’t have to read The Prince’s Man first, but I think you should. What would happen to order in the universe if everyone just started reading books all willy nilly and out of sequence? Chaos I tell you, chaos! Either way, if you choose to be an agent for chaos or read the books in a sensible order like proper purveyor of peace, if you are a fan of fantasy I recommend this/these books!

 

I was given a copy of this book from the author in exchange for Beta reading it, which was basically the best nerdy book lover experience ever! After reading the final copy I also agreed to post my own honest review. Thank you Deborah Jay for letting me be a part of the experience! 

Scotch on the Rocks by Lizzie Lamb and November Book at the Door Winner

And the winner is:

I won a Book at the Door with Behind the Willows

Anyes from Far Away in the Sunshine!

Anyes will need to watch her mail box because on it’s way is a brand new paper back copy of Scotch on the Rocks by Lizzie Lamb, the print of the first line artwork by Bradley Corbett and a fun packet of extra goodies sent along by the author!

Ishabel Stuart raced her car against the combined forces of time and tide, a thunderstorm snapping at her heels.

Ishabel Stuart raced her car against the combined forces of time and tide, a thunderstorm snapping at her heels.

Lizzie Lamb writes humorous, contemporary romance, you can find her on her website, on Twitter and on Facebook. If you hop on over to any of those places you’ll see that it just so happens, that her books are on sale right now!

If she’s a new author to you, this is the perfect time to give her books a try.

I think they are just as good as birthday cake…

Scotch on the Rocks

“Romance novels are birthday cake and life is often peanut butter and jelly. I think everyone should have lots of delicious romance novels lying around for those times when the peanut butter of life gets stuck to the roof of your mouth.”

– Janet Evanovitch 

Life had too much peanut butter in it. I needed a birthday cake of a romance novel and, thankfully, Scotch on the Rocks was on the menu.

Why a birthday cake of a romance novel?

Well, because like birthday cake, you aren’t expecting nutrition from your romance novel. You don’t expect your latest romance or slice of birthday cake to make you a better person. And you don’t actually want much of a surprise. “Surprise – your birthday cake has nuts!” Is not something anyone wants to hear.

The comfort of predictability, reliable sweetness, a touch of decadence, and a great big pile of happy… that’s what makes both a good birthday cake and romance novel.

Scotch on the Rocks was a true birthday cake of a romance novel.

The woman is beautiful, but in a girl-next-door way: Yellow cake.

The man is gorgeous: Chocolate frosting.

And rich: Chocolate ganache frosting.

The banter between the two is witty: Two layers!

The steamy scenes are steamy without being raunchy: Extra big slice!

He, on occasion, wears a kilt: Frosting roses!

There is a super sassy parrot: Sparkler candle!

But then, of course, there is the terrible, everything has to fall apart so they can get back together section.

I hate that part.

It’s like when your husband pretends to steal all your frosting and then gives it back right at the last second. You’re pretty sure that since he hates frosting, he’s going to give it back but it’s always a relief when it’s back on your own plate.  Just in case this is the time he changes his mind.

Sure, it adds some drama to the experience but I don’t actually want drama. I just want to eat my frosting and be happy. It was a relief that, while reading this birthday cake, frosting was merely scooped off my plate with a flourish before I received a wink and it was plopped right back on top!

Would I recommend it? Well… do you like cake?

Book at the Door winner was chosen using a random number generator from http://www.random.org 

Artists of all kinds (Yes, you photographers and you who says you can’t draw and you who just wants to practice hand lettering and you who is selling paintings online and…all of you!) if you are interested in providing a small piece of work that includes a first sentence I would love to hear from you!  

Authors, have I read your book and tagged it as a recommended read? Would you like to donate a hard copy? Let me know! 

Book at the Door is taking a break for the month of December but will be back again in January! 

The Sorcerer’s Garden by D. Wallace Peach

I have a new belief.

The word “entrails” should not be used more often than necessary, possibly never and certainly not more than once a book.

I’m not sure how often “entrails” was mentioned in The Sorcerer’s Garden but it was, per my new belief, too many times.

I am well aware that not everyone has the same beliefs as me (My own husband, for instance, can not seem to grasp the fact that sheets should never be tucked into the bottom of the bed when you go to sleep or your feet will suffocate in the confined space). To each his own. If you are of the type that does like such things, I have a book here for you that is chock full of amazingly detailed, exciting, graphic fight scenes, complete with gushing blood, rolling heads and… entrails.

If you have a similar belief system as I do, I have a book here that is hard to put down. There is a story within the story and when the main character starts showing up in the story within the story, well even a bit of entrails couldn’t stop me finding out what happened next.  And if that sentence confused you a little bit, I understand, it was a little bit confusing, but in a good muddled-for-a-purpose sort of way.

Would I recommend it? Here’s the thing, entrails aside, I didn’t love the wrapping up of the plot. Not the actual ending, that was great, but the part that would have been the Clue master proclaiming “It was Mr Green in the conservatory with the lead pipe!”  Which was sad because the rest of the book was engaging with likable characters and sprinkled with humor. But who knows, maybe it was just me. I always was more of a Colonel Mustard type, perhaps you’ll like it, just watch out for those entrails!

Rosie's Book Review team 1

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!

Hey did you know that not only do I love books but I love sharing books too!?! November’s Book at the Door giveaway is open- come and enter I’d love to send you a book too!!!

 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

This series starts with a young woman who was clearly caught up in all sorts of craziness. She has no family, blue hair, wicked fighting skills and delivers teeth to a bunch of chimeras on the other side of a magical door. Yet for some maddening reason knows nothing about anything.

I rolled my eyes.

Clueless protagonist, classic fantasy tale set up. Fine, it works, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

And then she meets the guy…He is of course super tall, super gorgeous, super mean looking, and, oh yes, an angel who’s in the process of trying to kill her. Of course he doesn’t because a thread of warm, fuzzy feeling pierces his cold, rotten heart once he gets a good look at her.

*cue eye rolling*

But…

Perhaps it was that I am always a sucker for a fantasy/romance/young adult or perhaps it was that the clueless protagonist and the otherworldly gorgeous man thing just works.

Or perhaps it was that once we got into the story and the main character got clued in (Not how I expected either!) and we learn more of the back story, everything was just different enough from the norm that I was willing to leave my eye rolls behind and fall headlong into the tale.

Would I recommend it? I actually ran across this series on a list of YA books for people who don’t think they like YA. And I have to say, for a young adult book it’s not heavy on the young part. The main characters are more college age and … errr …. up (Nobody really counts how old when you are talking angels…or .. resurrected souls in chimera bodies, right?).  Angel ages aside, I would agree, young adult fandom is not required for this one.  There is even a pleasing and almost surprising amount of depth for a young adult, fantasy/romance read. You probably should like fantasy though, what with the multi-world thing and the angels and the resurrected chimera (which come in all sorts of animal/human configurations) and the magic and the wishing and all that. Give it a try, even if the first few chapters make you roll your eyes and scoff, give it a chance, it gets better.

Much better!

Hey did you know that not only do I love books but I love sharing books too!?! November’s Book at the Door giveaway is open- come and enter I’d love to send you a book too!!!

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

Once again there is a picture book in the house that has me pulling books out of unsuspecting visiting grandmother’s hands in order to replace it with this one. Because if you are visiting this week and you are only going to read one book to the girls, this is the one you want to read.

Of course this is a retelling of the classic Goldilocks story.  I’m sure you remember her, she’s that blond girl that never “listened to anyone or anything.” And while I can practically guarantee adults and children alike will enjoy this book, if you can work on your evil Norwegian Dinosaur laugh you’ll really bring extra life to the story.

Would I recommend it? Yes! Mo Willems has many good books but I think this is one of his best.

Madam Tulip and the Knave of Hearts by David Ahern

I’m so grateful that I was once reeled in by a cute frog on the cover of a book. That book, Madam Tulip, introduced me to Derry O’Donnell and her accompanying, charmingly over the top, literary comrades.

David Ahern’s newest book cover isn’t as cute…

… but that’s alright because I loved it even more!

Would I recommend it? Yes! This is the new series I’m recommending to anyone who loves a humorous mystery! It made me giggle (so many times) and almost gag (there’s an eyeball…) and had me on the edge of my seat (Well, that’s just a lie on my part. I was reading in bed. But it did have me refusing to put the book down and go to bed at a reasonable time) all at once. A perfect fun, quick read!

Rosie's Book Review team 1

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I discovered this book because I’m a proud member of Rosie’s Book Review Team!

Life in the Floating City by AR Neal

Do you ever take on a project and then wonder what you were thinking?

Me? Read and review a book inspired by a music album?

Me? Read a book where each chapter corresponds to a song of the album?

I am really not a music person.

But… I am totally alright with futuristic worlds and interstellar travel and (this may come as a shock) I really like books.

So, I offered to read it and…

…holy man the people in this book!

They are conniving and loving and crazy! They have secrets and plans and sometimes they get lucky and sometimes they don’t.

And…Wow!

But, people are always going to be – people. Just like the first chapter says, “No matter where the sun, there’s nothing new under it.”

It doesn’t matter if you’re a music lover or an interstellar space lover because, above and beyond all that, this is a book about people and the rest is just a minor back drop to the drama of their lives. But let me warn you, there is a lot of drama in these lives. I was taken aback by the twists more than once!

Would I recommend it? I would particularly recommend it to someone who loves music. You see I tried to listen to the album… but, and this pains me to admit, I got bored and I couldn’t focus and didn’t really listen to any of it. And so, while I found the information at the end of the book about the album and the inspiration it gave the author really interesting, I’m curious how someone who actually has the ability to pay attention to a whole song would feel about the book. Though I would caution that the novel flows more like a collection of short stories that tell a larger picture. Just remember I’m living proof that you don’t need to listen to the music to enjoy this crazy drama.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ivory and Gold by Jerry Johnson

This is one of those books where the good ole boy Nebraska deer hunters get transported back in time and space to early 1900’s Africa.

 

Yeah… I’ve never read anything like it either and it does sounds a little crazy.

Okay, it might actually be a little crazy, but give it a chance!

Jerry writes with the eyes of a man who appreciates the detail of the natural world.  He can bring both the Nebraska sandhills and the African plain to life like only one who’s loved and lived in the outdoors his whole life can. And, it seems, that he has heard enough hunters talking smart and telling yarns that his characters can banter and trash talk with the best of them, as they make their way through all the terrible and wonderful things the Athi Plain (not to mention that smugglers’ caravan they ran into) can throw at them.  Even if they are just a couple of modern day rednecks.

Would I recommend it? Ivory and Gold was one of those books that I couldn’t help but smile as I read it. I smile when I tell someone about it and re-reading bits as I write this has me grinning all over again. I smiled for the characters and for the African time in history, and I bet, if you don’t mind a little space-time travel and love a good hunting yarn, you will too!