Search
Reviews by Category
-
Recent Posts
Archives
- February 2022 (1)
- January 2022 (2)
- December 2021 (2)
- November 2021 (5)
- October 2021 (4)
- September 2021 (4)
- August 2021 (5)
- July 2021 (4)
- June 2021 (6)
- May 2021 (5)
- April 2021 (4)
- March 2021 (5)
- February 2021 (5)
- January 2021 (5)
- December 2020 (5)
- November 2020 (5)
- October 2020 (9)
- September 2020 (8)
- August 2020 (6)
- July 2020 (7)
- June 2020 (11)
- May 2020 (6)
- April 2020 (8)
- March 2020 (5)
- February 2020 (8)
- January 2020 (5)
- December 2019 (8)
- November 2019 (6)
- October 2019 (11)
- September 2019 (11)
- August 2019 (8)
- July 2019 (12)
- June 2019 (10)
- May 2019 (8)
- April 2019 (5)
- March 2019 (4)
- February 2019 (4)
- January 2019 (4)
- December 2018 (16)
- November 2018 (20)
- October 2018 (25)
- September 2018 (20)
- August 2018 (26)
- July 2018 (25)
- June 2018 (23)
- May 2018 (25)
- April 2018 (28)
- March 2018 (24)
- February 2018 (23)
- January 2018 (26)
- December 2017 (12)
- November 2017 (10)
- October 2017 (37)
- September 2017 (48)
- August 2017 (19)
- July 2017 (30)
- June 2017 (30)
- May 2017 (44)
- April 2017 (32)
- March 2017 (49)
- February 2017 (32)
- January 2017 (54)
- December 2016 (29)
- November 2016 (36)
- October 2016 (39)
- September 2016 (31)
- August 2016 (49)
- July 2016 (64)
- June 2016 (52)
- May 2016 (52)
- April 2016 (66)
- March 2016 (72)
- February 2016 (60)
- January 2016 (59)
- December 2015 (72)
- November 2015 (81)
- October 2015 (59)
- September 2015 (41)
- August 2015 (33)
- July 2015 (30)
- June 2015 (25)
- May 2015 (42)
- April 2015 (40)
- March 2015 (32)
- February 2015 (25)
-
Net Galley
Monthly Archives: August 2018
25 mouse and mouse house designs – printed one side of page
Nice Little Town 6
By: Tatiana Bogema (Stolova)
Rating: 5 of 5
This is the third Nice Little Town to focus on the cute abodes of mice. As with the second book, the houses in this book are more modern (compared to those in the first book.)
The mouses are long and lean rather than round and cute. Some of them look like they are adolescents who are going through a growth spurt and their clothes are getting a little too short.
Once again, these mice are having fun. They are going about their day and living life well. There is a design of one mouse taking a shower via a watering can spout (how inventive!) There is another with a class learning the importance of recognizing a C A T.
Both my husband and I are enjoying these books and would be happy to see more of them. I have many coloring books by this artist and am always impressed by her range and by her skill.
Just a note, this time the author did not include bonus pages from her other books. She did, however, include thumbnail images from those books, so you can still see the types of designs that are available.
Posted in Adult Color Books
Leave a comment
22 lovely Maxfield Parrish designs based on “The Knave of Hearts” – printed one side of the page
Maxfield Parrish: The Knave of Hearts Coloring Book
By: Maxfield Parish
Rating: 5 of 5
This is an older coloring book by Pomgranate (and may currently be out of print though still available through some bookstores.) The artwork is based on that of famed artist, Maxfield Parrish. The “story” is based on a nursery rhyme made famous by being included in Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and was written by Louise Saunders.
Maxfield Parrish illustrated the story which was first published in 1925. The coloring book contains 22 beautifully rendered designs converted to line drawings.
In addition to the the designs, there is a listing of the artwork included. Also included (on the inside of the front a back covers) and full color thumbnails of all of the original artwork.
The designs are open and easy to color. There is a good level of detail but they have left a lot of open area to allow you to color and add your own shading and details.
Posted in Adult Color Books
Leave a comment
Fun start to a new cozy mystery series set in Texas
Secrets, Lies, & Crawfish Pies (A Romaine Wilder Mystery) (Volume 1)
By: Abby L. Vandiver
Rating: 4 of 5
Romaine Wilder is a medical examiner who has come home to the small Texas town of Roble to recoup after her life falls in the big city falls apart. Between losing her job and finding out just how little her “boyfriend” intends to actually give up to be with her, Romaine finds little solace in the small town happenings she left behind.
That is, until a body turns up unexpectedly at her Auntie’s funeral home. Auntie Zanne is ready to point a finger at another family member and Romaine becomes involved to prove otherwise.
Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Leave a comment
31 Beautiful Fairies by Marjorie Sarnat – printed one side of page
Magical Fairies
By: Marjorie Sarnat
Rating: 5 of 5
Coloring Book Review
I own a variety of coloring books by Majorie Sarnat but it is only in recent books that the artist has begun including figures in her designs. While I love the animals (including owls, cats and dogs) which are in the older books, it is these newer coloring books that I am reaching for again and again. My earlier book is of angels and this book is of beautiful fairies.
There are 31 designs with a variety of fairy subjects. The artist has included drawings which give a nod to the earlier books (with a fairy with a cat or dog, etc.) She has also included fairies in storybook tales and a wide variety of other scenarios. One of my favorites is of a peacock fairy.
As always with Ms. Sarnat, the designs are detailed. Some include smaller and more intricate areas to color but are not, for the most part, what I consider to be difficult to color. The designs have framing lines at the outer edges but some motifs do cross over the line but remain as finished objects when they do.
I’ve noticed that the paper quality seems to change quite frequently on the Creative Haven line. Because of that, if you buy one of these books, it may be slightly smooth or slightly rough depending on when and where it was printed. I’ve found that coloring medium, including pencils, work similarly with both slightly rough and slightly smooth paper from Creative Haven. In this case, my coloring book pages are slightly rough.
Posted in Adult Color Books
Leave a comment
32 keeper fantasy forest designs – printed one side of page
Keepers of the Enchanted Forest
By: Forest Diver; Published by Storytroll Studios (Julia Rivers)
Rating: 5 of 5
In this third of a series of coloring books by artist Forest Diver, the keepers are a group of creatures who are tasked with maintaining the safety of the enchanted forest.
In the first book in the series, we discovered the hidden fantasy creatures who live there. The keepers seem to be consistent with the guardians (are were introduced in the second book.) These keepers/guardians are stronger and bigger than the innocent creatures who live and thrive in the enchanted forest.
The book has 32 designs and lives up to the excellent quality of the first two books. The designs are detailed and, in some cases, have more intricate areas to color.
Posted in Adult Color Books
Leave a comment
25 Unique Sweet and Cute Cat Designs (with an extra copy of each) – printed one side of the page
Cute Cats
By: Jade Summer
Rating: 5 of 5
This is a coloring book about cats. They are quite cute. What I like most is that most of the designs are of cats are simply being cats. They are not being given human qualities though a few are a bit dressed up.
Personally, the most I could ever get my cats to wear was their collar and tag. Having said that, my youngest daughter, as a child, would take our cats and dress them in her doll clothes and put them in her doll stroller. And they loved it! If I had tried it, they would have tried to remove my spleen through a nostril or something. That this book brings back those memories is a special add-on for me while I am coloring.
The designs in this book are nicely detailed with a fun use of background as a integral part of the design. While I don’t consider these designs to be intricate or hard to color, there is enough going on that a project will take a bit of time to complete.
You can receive a digital download of the book as part of the purchase of the print copy (instructions in the book). While printing those copies is a great plus, I will be reviewing (and videoing and photo images) from the print copy.
Posted in Adult Color Books
Leave a comment
25 Large Format Underwater Fantasy Designs – printed one side of heavy stock page
The Imaginary Garden of Jane F. Hankins
By: Jane F. Hankins
Rating: 5 of 5
I’ve said this before about coloring books from Jane F. Hankins but it bears repeating: quality comes at a premium and this is one of the nicest quality coloring books that I own. Not only are the pages larger than most at 11 x 14 inches, the paper used is #80 professional grade paper.
While this is only speaking about the way the book is put together what is even more striking is the artwork in the book. I appreciate Ms. Hankins artistic signature style. She has a lovely sense of whimsy that comes through on each and every page in this book.
The book starts with the cover page and then moves on to a fun “map” of the imaginary garden. It serves almost as a table of contents for what will come after but it is a lovely and fun page to color as well.
The designs include flowers and insects and even a spirit of the garden and a fairy or two (or three or more.)
The book is a premium one and, if you enjoy the artwork, it makes all the difference. The pages are set up to be framed easily with the pages being perforated for easy removal.
The designs are detailed and some have some and intricate areas to color. There is a tad more shading using crosshatch on some designs. I think there is less than I found in the Underwater coloring book but I still want to note that it exists.
Posted in Adult Color Books
Leave a comment
25 Unique Country Life inspired designs (with an extra copy of each) – printed one side of the page
Country Farm
By: Jade Summer
Rating: 5 of 5
This is a coloring book about country farm. There are some scenes (such as camping and forest) which may not fit into that category quite as well but let’s just say the book is a good one for a more simple life with outdoor scenes taking prominence. All four seasons are represented (though the winter scenes are focused on Christmas more than just winter.)
I personally really appreciate the change of seasons with spring and baby animals, summer with picnics and long days, fall with harvest and Christmas with snow!
The designs in this book are detailed with lots of heavy background designs. There are some areas in the designs which might be considered small and perhaps even intricate but overall, the designs are not difficult to color. However, because of the detail, you can spend a good amount of time coloring each page.
You can receive a digital download of the book as part of the purchase of the print copy (instructions in the book). While printing those copies is a great plus, I will be reviewing (and videoing and photo images) from the print copy.
Posted in Adult Color Books
Leave a comment
35 Japanese Life inspired designs – printed one side of the page
Japanese Life
By: Nathaniel Wake
Rating: 5 of 5
I own a number of coloring books by Nathaniel Wake. I’ve found that the artist responsible for the designs (whose name is not Nathaniel Wake – that is an imprint name for the publisher), has an interesting design style. His females come across as stronger characters than most represented in coloring books and this is especially true of the women in this coloring book
There is a good range of women and men along with scenes of daily life, Japanese motifs, animals and even children. The designs are detailed with lots of elements which will which allow me to spend more time coloring each page.
You can receive a digital download of the book as part of the purchase of the print copy (instructions in the book). While printing those copies is a great plus, I will be reviewing (and videoing and photo images) from the print copy.
Posted in Adult Color Books
Leave a comment
World War II spy mystery novel set off the coast of Scotland
The Prisoner in the Castle: A Maggie Hope Mystery
By: Susan Elia MacNeal
Rating: 5 of 5
I’m a real fan of this series and have read all but one of the books. How I missed the last book is beyond me but I will be rectifying that shortly.
A quick word to say that while this book can be read stand-alone, I suggest reading the series in order. The series follows events of WWII and provides a good history backdrop to the fictional account of Maggie Hope, English spy. Even missing the last book was enough to make me wonder about what had just happened to place Maggie where she is in this story.
Maggie and some fellow English spies are being held (by their own government) on an island prison just off the coast of Scotland. When some suspicious deaths occur, the spies start turning on their own. Maggie keeps her head and tries to figure out the logical play of events. Since Maggie is a mathematician, logic plays a large part of her persona.
Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Leave a comment