Tag Archives: book

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

Hi, Honey!

So, don’t be mad but I really feel like the best way to tell, you know, all the people, how good these books are involves you. And by involves you, I really mean me telling you the thing I try not to say too often to the man who is the most wonderful husband ever.

You see, I know that I was a bit girly about the love I had for the completely awesome female assassin main character when I tried to push the book on you. I can see now that perhaps that wasn’t quite the right track to take with you. I could have mentioned more of the plot, or a few of the fairly awesome male characters. Probably I should have told you that thing about the beautiful witches with their iron teeth and nails and how they just “play” with men before, you know, eating them (unless, of course, they are just out killing for fun). And how by the end of the books you won’t hate them and how I think that’s pretty indicative of some amazing writing.

But I didn’t.

I just kept telling you that you were going to love it and badgered you until you finally started reading the first one. Then, of course, I’m sure you remember how I annoyed you until you read it faster so you could get to the amazing parts. That was foolish of me. I’m sorry. But, not even, when you went to the library in another town to pick up book three because you’d be able to get your hands on it sooner did I actually say “I told you so!” like I totally could have.

So sorry, for telling, you know, all the people, about all that. But I want them to believe me (or, really, it’d be believing us now right?) about how great these books are and how they should definitely read them!

Thanks for your help!

Love you!

Would I recommend them? Yes! (And I think John might too, if he’s still speaking to me after this…)

Escape from Witchwood Hollow by Jordan Elizabeth

I sit with the sleeves of my stained, maroon sweatshirt pushed up so the holes in the cuffs don’t catch on my thumbs and interfere with my typing. My pants, though rivaling the age of my youngest daughter, must be eight years younger than their counterpart but without holes or stains to create a matched set. Nor do they have a shape or distinguishing feature of their own. Just baggy black pants that swish round my ankle as my barefoot swings under the table.

I’d be lying to you if I said this was just my blogging outfit.

That’s right, I went out into public in this fantastic get up.

Twice.

Today.

So, it’s a bit surprising to me that in thinking back on this book, so much of my memory revolves around clothes – and I liked it.

Perhaps I liked it because of those snap judgments we make on the people around us based on their clothes. Don’t worry, I’m not looking for reflections on my own appearance (though I bet you’ve got opinions now, and if shopping hater and cheapskate were on your list you’ve got me at least partially pegged). This book, littered with clothing descriptions, instantly rounds out the characters as they are introduced.

Maybe it’s that in a book that draws characters from multiple time periods, clothing differences were an important distinguisher.

Or, maybe, it’s just that I like a unique witch-y mystery, and the main character happened to like fashion.

Would I recommend it? Yes. Young adult fans, this is nicely written and it’s got just the right amount of spookiness in it for those of you who are horror wimps like me. You can trust me on this. I have way better taste in books than clothes!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Lousy Rotten Stinkin’ Grapes by Margie Palatini and Barry Moser

“Here’s the plan.”…

Sort of like the sly, clever, smart fox (his words, not mine) in this book, I always have a plan. I’m a planner. I change my plans. I amend my plans. I make new plans. But there is always a plan.

The fox is plotting a way  to get some grapes and it’s trickier than expected. Undaunted, the fox keeps making new plans. I like this about him. But he also causes himself all sorts of extra difficulties because he doesn’t listen to the other animals who try to help him out. Never a good thing.

I like to think I make better plans and listen to other people better than the fox does. But John has taken to adding, “voila!… Grapes!” to the ends of my more complex ideas and “No grapes.” when things don’t pan out.

It seems I have a little work to do there, but don’t worry, I have a plan…

 

Would I recommend it? It’s my current favorite book to read out loud. It’s got phrases that have worked their way into our daily vocabulary. But, I have to tell you, it has a porcupine that claims to be able to shoot it’s quills.

It hurts me to read that to my children. I have to stop and remind them, porcupines don’t shoot their quills.

Ever.

But, I love the rest of this book so much I’m willing to overlook a quill shooting porcupine, it’s that good.

 

Love Unfeigned by Nadine C. Keels

Sweet is an overused word.

Perhaps it’s because I’m the mother of three young and adorable girls that I hear, “Oh, that’s so sweet!” on a fairly regular basis.

Maybe it’s just because I’ve heard it too often in reference to obnoxious behavior my adorable girls are exhibiting that now 97% of the time when I hear someone call something sweet I throw up a bit in my mouth.

Sweet has fallen far down on my list of favorite words in the last decade.

This is a problem because there is nothing that describes 97% of this love story better than sweet.  Sometimes poignantly sweet, sometimes bittersweet but always with a constant tug on the heart that leaves you with an aching chest and a small smile.

Would I recommend it? Brace yourself, I’m gonna say it.

“You should read this, it’s just – so sweet!”

And a book that can cause me to say that is definitely worth a 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 Secrets of Ice Cream Success by A.D. Hartley

Do you remember that group of kids, (mostly boys) that was so fun to be around?

Clowns, jokers and best friends they teased each other and everyone else, wrestled and created a friendly hulabaloo everywhere they went.  Everyone giggled with them and nobody ever took seriously until one day you turned around and realized that somehow, between all the fart jokes and noogies, they’d gone out, conquered demons you didn’t even know they had and accomplished things.

The gang in this book is saving an ice cream emporium but I think you’ll recognize them anyway.

Front Cover PNG Smashwords

Would I recommend it? Yes! The antics of the boys (and girl) are an excellent counter balance to the heavier elements of the book. I was hooked by the drama and laughed my way through the plot. Which might mean I have the sense of humor of a fourteen year old boy… But it certainly means that I’d recommend it as a great middle grade or young adult book.  Heck, I’d even say that, as your child’s responsible parent, you think you should probably “check” this book for them and read it first!

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 Bad Girl by L. Donsky-Levine

This was hard to read.

I wanted more.

It was a conundrum.

You see, as hard as it was to read about a girl attempting to pull herself out of some of life’s most horrible situations, I still wanted to know more about her. This book, a novella really, is complete and full, it doesn’t technically need more. But that’s not stopping me from wanting it to have more.

The jumps in time throughout the story left me, not disoriented, but sad. I wanted to know how she’d been getting along when we weren’t a party to it. I wanted more chapters by the cat, (One of the best cat point of views ever!).  I just wanted… more.

Would I recommend it? Ehh… Umm… Er… It was good, in a dark, gritty, shocking sort of way. But along with the grit is a measure of hope, love, a portrait of New York City in the 70’s and an awful lot things to mull over when you’ve put the book down.  I’m glad I read it but I wouldn’t hand it to you until after we had chatted about it for a bit.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!

Do Not Wash Hands In Plates by Barb Taub

If Barb Taub and I lived somewhat close to each other (say if, for instance, there was something less than an ocean between us), I like to imagine that when Barb returned from her trip to India I would have lured her to my house with promises of cake and whiskey. We’d sit down someplace comfy, whiskey in hand and she would regale us with her travels through India.

In real life I’d likely spend the night in tears.

Tears of laughter.

The kind of laughter that lasts for so long that it gets hard to breathe and is possibly a bit painful.  Of course, that’d be in real life.

Please, read Do Not Wash Hands In Plates, but remember, you are not talking with Barb in real life. It may feel as if you are but when you “share” that whiskey, don’t forget that you are reading from a sensitive electronic device that will not like it if your laughter causes you to choke on your drink and spew it across the “page.” (Oh the things I do in the name of book reviewing… And yes, the Kindle survived!)

 

Would I recommend it?  It’s a hilariously well written quick read of a travel memoir. It’s not quite like sharing a bit of cake with Barb but it’s as close as most of us are going to get!

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Two for the Holidays by Ekta R. Garg

This is not the first book of Stories in Pairs that I’ve read but it’s the best. If you’ve been thinking about giving this author and idea a try, start here!

The first story is powerful.

The second left me in tears.

The connection between the two is perfect.

Would I recommend it? Yes. Don’t be put off by the “holiday” in the title just because we have passed the New Year. The first story centers on Halloween, the second Christmas but they are readable anytime!

A Knock at the Door by Helen Yeomans

When I stop to think about it, the sheer volume of children’s books that move through our house is fairly impressive. The bookshelves are already overflowing with books we own, but that’s hardly enough variety. For that we take, at least, weekly trips to the library, where we always seem to have in excess of thirty books checked out at a time. And, because more books is never a bad thing, I’m happy to report that the two older girls now get to bring home a few books from the school library as well.

It’s a lot of books.

Some of them are bad, most of them are good and a few stand apart from the rest. Those special few that all the kids love and that we, the parents, don’t mind reading repeatedly.  Those books that seem to be written by the authors who really know the mind of a child.

They are the books that have a little something extra in them. That slightly intangible bend to the writing that kids adore. An aside that’s un-necessary. Little bits of information you don’t need. Silly words thrown in to make them giggle. A Knock At The Door has it all.

(It also has, if you want to be all adult-like about things, quite a lot of learning opportunities. After reading this book a few times I doubt my kids will ever misspell “half.” But, to be honest, I loved it for the same silliness that my kids did).

A week or so after we finished reading the book out loud together, I asked my daughters what they thought of it.

“I loved  it!” Ivy gushed.

I wish I could have written down what Ivy (8) and Clara (6) said next, but it came out in such a babbling enthusiastic mess of “Because letters are silly and don’t really talk!” and “I love the G wizard” and “Remember when…” and “Wasn’t that letter funny…” that I missed most of it.

But no matter what they said, I think their vote was definitively cast when Ivy went and got the book and we sat down to re-read two stories out of it before bed.

Would we recommend it? Yes! A most enthusiastic yes! Even Jane (4) giggled at things like L’s being stinkers, but then again, so did I!

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!

Cry of the Sea by D. G. Driver

High School Popularity Drama.

Big Oil.

Mermaids.

Three incongruous topics seamlessly melded together in one novel.

I know it sounds implausible, but I assure you not only is it true, but the book even includes a good dose of environmental lobbying, coming of age, and journalism in today’s online world.

I read this novel with what can only be described as awe that the author was not only able to pull off this plot line, but do it in a way that left me thinking, “Well, maybe it could happen…”

Then I got to the end.

I won’t spoil it for you, but it was one of those endings that left you satisfied that the book ended just exactly how it should have.

Would I recommend it? I didn’t much care for all the high school drama when I was in high school. I like it less now. It’s only because of that aspect of the book that I wouldn’t outright recommend it to my adult friends. But, I think back to myself as a teenager, and I would have loved this, drama and all. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to the young adults it was written for!


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!