Category Archives: Book Reviews

A Case for Laughing Out Loud

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Iiiireader

The Case of the Invisible Dog: A Shirley Homes Mystery

By: Diane Stingley

Rating: 5 of 5

thecaseoftheinvisibledogI am a fan of the Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories as well as books, movies, and television series that are based on the original tales. I was happy to pick up “The Case of the Invisible Dog” on that basis alone. It was also the first time I had read a book by Diane Stingley, so I had no idea of what her style would be like.

I laughed my way through the book. I also chortled, guffawed, snorted through almost every speech Shirley Homes made in the book. Yes, speech, because Shirley does not merely have a dialog or a response or a question – no, she waxed poetic on every subject.

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Campy romance thriller that spoofs romance thrillers

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Iiiireader

Spotless (Spotless Series Book 1)

By: Camilla Monk

Rating: 5 of 5

spotless“Spotless” is a campy action thriller story, the first I have read by Camilla Monk as well as the first in her Spotless series. I enjoyed reading it once I realized that it was all being tongue-in-cheek and spoofing romance novels as well as action books.

Each chapter has a “quote” from a supposed romance novel – each of which is funnier than the last. The reason for this is that the heroine of this story is Island Chaptal, a young woman who is addicted to reading romance novels – probably because she has so little romance in her own life. What is funnier, is that Island actually quotes from these books through the story – as if real life mimics the over-the-top antics that go on in her beloved novels.

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Beautiful story about healing, forgiving, and trusting

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Iiiireader

The Sound of Glass

By: Karen White

Rating: 5 of 5

thesoundofglass“The Sound of Glass” is a beautifully written story about a family that has many, many secrets. The story begins in 1955 and, from the first moment, gripped me in the tangled web of the women who tell the tale.

The story quickly moves to 2014 when we meet Merritt Heyward. Merritt’s husband Cal, a firefighter, passed away two years before. Merritt inherits Cal’s grandmother’s house and moves from Maine to South Carolina both to inhabit the house and to leave behind her past life. She no sooner steps foot into the beautiful but run-down house when her past comes to meet her in a way she could never have planned.

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Fantastic cookbook with a focus on chowders

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Iiiireader

Chowderland: Hearty Soups & Stews with Sides & Salads to Match

By: Brooke Dojny

Rating: 5 of 5

chowderlandChowderland: Heart Soups & Stews with Sides & Salads to Match” by Brooke Dojny is a delicious looking cookbook that has a focus on recipes of various chowders. In addition to those, there are a good number of other recipes for delicious side dishes which can be served with chowders.

I grew up with with New England and Manhattan style clam chowder. I had no idea that there was such a variety of styles to be made. When I met and married my husband, he told me that my creamy chowder was good but not quite what he was used to. It wasn’t until I read this book that I was able to understand the difference between what I made and what he had eaten in Maine as a child. Needless to say, the next time I made a cream clam chowder, I will follow Ms. Dojny’s recipe and give my husband a taste of what he has missed since moving away from his Maine roots.

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Fun way to teach simple reading to a young child

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Iiiireader

Budding Reader Book Set 5: Hens

By: Author – Melinda Thompson; Illustrator – Doug Oglesby

Rating: 5 of 5

hensThis is a wonderful way to teach simple reading to a young child. The concept starts with pictures only and then adds words in sequence through the same story. It starts with only a couple of words and by the end of the book, the child is reading full sentences, including questions. While the end result is similar to the old “See Spot Run” type of book, the practice of adding words to the same story is really interesting and different. It allows the child the ability to finish the story using the actual words being studied.

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Fun and colorful way to teach reading to a young child

Posted on May 9, 2015 by Iiiireader

Budding Reader Book Set 1: Cat and Rat

By: Author – Melinda Thompson; Illustrator – Doug Oglesby

Rating: 5 of 5

catandratThis is a wonderful way to teach simple reading to a young child. The concept starts with pictures only and then adds words in sequence through the same story. It starts with only a couple of words and becomes more complex. By the end of the book, the child is reading full sentences, including questions. While the end result is similar to the old “See Spot Run” type of book, the practice of adding words to the same story is really interesting and different. It allows the child the ability to finish the story using the actual words being studied.

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Beautiful story for children

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Iiiireader

The Frog In The Tree

By: Paul Waters

Rating: 5 of 5

thefroginthetree“The Frog in the Tree” is a lovely children’s book that is told in verse. The drawings are in black and white and are very well done and match the story beautifully. The verse is a lovely way to read the book aloud and has the added benefit of helping lull a little one to sleep.

The story begins with a frog who is living in a tree. He has hidden away from the world and doesn’t want to return to where he came from. He is forced out of his hidden comfort when he leaves the tree to save a baby bird.

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Great story about barnstorming in the 1920s

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Iiiireader

The Flying Circus

By: Susan Crandall

Rating: 5 of 5

theflying circus“The Flying Circus” is the first book I have read by Susan Crandall but I will certainly be going back and reading some of her earlier works. While the story deal with many serious issues, I came away from the book with a feel-good vibe.

The story is set in the 1920’s just prior to the beginning of the Great Depression. There is actually reference to the Florida land-grab, which some have seen as something that helped lead to the drop in the stock market.

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Lovely and humorous story with beautiful illustrations

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Iiiireader

The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frères

By: Marie Le Tourneau (Author/Illustrator)

Rating: 5 of 5

misbistrot“The Mice of Bistrot des Sept Frères (Bistro of Seven Brothers)” is a lovely story about a restaurant known for its wonderful cheese soup. The restaurant is run by Chef Marcel (father mouse) and his highly publicized seven sons. He also has a lovely little daughter mouse who helps out here and there.

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Another great book in a great series

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Iiiireader

Dry Bones: A Walt Longmire Mystery (Walt Longmire Mysteries)

By: Craig Johnson

Rating: 5 of 5

drybonesAnother great book in the Walt Longmire series. In this book, a Tyrannosaurus rex is found on the Lone Elk ranch. It turns out to be on of the largest and most intact ever found. Almost immediately, there is a fight for who actually owns the land and the dinosaur.

At the same time, Walt Longmire is caught up in the investigation regarding the death of the owner of the Lone Elk ranch. Danny Lone Elk is found floating dead in a turtle pond on his ranch. Due to the craziness that has erupted around the finding of the dinosaur, Walt decides that he needs to take a closer look at Danny’s death.

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