Monthly Archives: September 2015

Fun mystery debut series

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Iiiireader

Plantation Shudders: A Cajun Country Mystery

By: Ellen Byron

Rating: 4 of 5

“Plantation Shudders” is a debut mystery series by Ellen Byron. The setting is in a fictional and fairly small town, Pelican, in Louisiana within driving distance of New Orleans.

The sleuth in the story is Maggie Crozat. Maggie has moved home from New York City after her relationship of six years fell apart and her old boyfriend married someone else. Maggie is Pelican “royalty” as both sides of her family can trace their lineage back to plantation owners. Her mother’s family gave up their plantation to the state and Maggie is a tour guide at the old plantation, Doucet, as her main bread and butter job. She also helps out and lives at the ancestral home of her father’s family, the Crozat’s, who have turned their main plantation house into a bed and breakfast as a way to hang on to the property.

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Another good addition to the Fool’s Gold family

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Iiiireader

Thrill Me (Fool’s Gold)

By: Susan Mallery

Rating: 4 of 5

“Thrill Me” is the last of the latest Fool’s Gold trilogy by Susan Mallery. I am fairly late into the overall series by having read the last ten. Fool’s Gold is a fictional town set at the base of the mountains of California. It definitely seems that if you arrive single in Fool’s Gold, you won’t remain so for very long.

For me, “Thrill Me” suffered a little bit because it followed “Kiss Me”, which was one of my favorites in this series. In the latest book, Maya comes back to Fool’s Gold to try to sort her life out and find out what she really wants to do in the future. Her first love, Del, also ends up in town at the same time. He is also trying to sort out his life. Maya wants to settle down an Del wants to travel the world.

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Detailed and Abstract Floral Designs Coloring Fun

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Iiiireader

Creative Haven Floral Frenzy Coloring Book (Adult Coloring)

By: Miryam Adatto

Rating: 5 of 5

Floral Frenzy is my second adult coloring book by Miryam Adatoo in the Creative Haven line. As with the other book, Fanciful Faces, there are 31 beautiful and wildly abstract designs.

Each design is an explosion of flowers in wild abandon along with beautiful and abstract backgrounds. At first glance in some cases, it is a little difficult to pick out the actual flowers. I can tell that when I color them, I can choose to hide the flowers or to bring them into the foreground of the design. I really like that I have this type of control over the design that I am coloring. It gives me another element of design thought as I plan what I will do with each page.
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Cute and funny story and great illustrations

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Iiiireader

The Princess and the Pony

By: Kate Beaton

Rating: 5 of 5

This is not quite the princess story I thought I might be reading when I picked it up. It is so much better. It turns out that Princess Pinecone is a pint-sized warrior princess. Her birthday is coming up and, in the past, all she was given were cute and cuddly sweaters. To make sure this year is different, she lets everyone know that what she really wants is a warrior horse. What she gets is a cute, little round pony who has a bit of an issue with tummy gas.

The story is cute and one that appeals to younger children (warrior, ponies, and gas – what’s not to love?) I really love the illustrations – the messy bedroom one is one that reminds me of both of my daughters rooms when they were growing up (except theirs were even more of a mess.) I look forward to reading this book to our little ones – it is unusual to find a Princess book that will appeal as much to boys as to girls.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher.

Posted in Childrens | Leave a comment

Good debut with a lot of information to absorb

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Iiiireader

The Girl in the Maze: A Thriller

By: R.K. Jackson

Rating: 4 of 5

“The Girl in the Maze” is an interesting and good debut book by R.K. Jackson. While I am not sure quite how to classify the story, Mr. Jackson was able to grab my attention and keep it attentively on the story from almost the beginning to the end.

The reason I mention I am not sure how to classify it is that there is a mystery component, a thriller/action style component, and finally more of a fiction/literature component.

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Intricate and gorgeous steampunk designs

Posted on September 6, 2015 by Iiiireader

Creative Haven Steampunk Designs Coloring Book (Creative Haven Coloring Books)

By: Marty Noble

Rating: 5 of 5

I have been a fan of Steampunk books and other items for a number of years. I really enjoy the what if nature of genre. In this book, the artist Marty Noble, brings that feeling to an adult coloring book. From the edgy use of gears, bolts, wheels, and other instantly recognizable steampunk elements to the beautiful clothes and hair of both the women and men in the designs, this book encapsulates the genre for me. Ms. Noble is a favorite of mine and this book is certainly one that I will enjoy coloring.
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Funny but predictable story of a rich young woman gone wild

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Iiiireader

Girl Meets Class

By: Karin Gillespie

Rating: 5 of 5

I have read and enjoy Karin Gillespie’s previous books in the Bottom Dollar series, so I was looking forward to reading her newest stand-alone book, “Girl Meets Class”. While Ms. Gillespie’s knack for bring humor to any situation is evident throughout, I found the book to be rather predictable in its plot.

The story is about the poor little rich girl, Toni Lee Wells, who is falling further and further into trouble of her own making. While she is not lacking for money, she does seem to lack for purpose and for close relationships with her family. She goes a step too far and gets cut off cold turkey by her family.

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Posted in Fiction/Literature | Leave a comment

Well thought out mystery set in eighteen century China

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Iiiireader

Jade Dragon Mountain: A Novel

By: Elsa Hart

Rating: 5 of 5

This is a thinking person’s mystery. It is set in the outlying provinces of eighteenth century China. The Emperor (who is not Chinese) has not been fully accepted in this area and is coming to show his power over the heavens. He will order an eclipse of the sun to happen at his command. The well kept secret is that he gets his information from the Jesuit astronomers that are present at his court. The city to host the event is bustling and packing full with individuals (including foreigners) who have been invited to see the Emperor’s power.

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Gorgeous knitting projects for babies and toddlers – using only one skein of yarn!

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Iiiireader

One-Skein Wonders for Babies: 101 Knitting Projects for Infants & Toddlers

By: Judith Durant

Rating: 5 of 5

I am blown away by the wonderful projects included in this book. I have a grandchild on the way and another one who is still a toddler and I was looking for a set of projects that I could accomplish fairly quickly while using up some of the extra skeins of yarn I have.

“One-Skein Wonders for Babies” is exactly the book I wanted and needed. I wasn’t aware of this series of books, but apparently this is the six edition in the series. I will certainly be purchasing the others (I see one is crochet, too!)

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Posted in Needlework/Arts/Crafts | Leave a comment

Interesting and innovative compendium of contemporary artists in an adult coloring book

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Iiiireader

Outside the Lines, Too: An Inspired and Inventive Coloring Book by Creative Masterminds

By: Souris Hong

Rating: 5 of 5

“Outside the Lines, Too” is the second in a series of adult coloring books curated by Souris Hong. In this book, there is a compilation of more than 100 different line drawings by different fine artists, graphic artists, illustrators, photographers, street artists, filmmakers and more. The designs are wildly different though they are all quite contemporary in their styles. According to the blurb on the back of the book, this is a new roster of artists compared to that of the first book “Outside the Lines”.