Great chapter book with lots of funny happenings

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Iiiireader

Going Green (The Secret Knock Club)

By: Louise Bonnett-Rampersaud

Rating: 4 of 5

goinggreenI have a couple of other books by Louise Bonnett-Rampersaud, including one of my favorite board books “How Do You Sleep?), so having an opportunity to read and review another book by this author was a real pleasure.

“Going Green” is the third book in the Secret Knock Club. The Secret Knock Club is a group of six third graders (three boys and three girls) who get together and do things for their community. In “Going Green”, the kids get to chose their kindergarten buddies – a child that they will get to help tutor and do fun things with. I don’t know if this is an actual thing that is done at school these days but it really sounds like a fun program if the kids are matched up well.

Continue reading →

Posted in Childrens | Leave a comment

A lovely book with detailed instructions on making hand made felt dolls

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Iiiireader

Sew Dolled Up

By: Boutique sha

Rating: 5 of 5

sewdolledupI first learned to sew by hand when I was ten years old and in elementary school. Our student teacher that year had convinced our school principal that a good art project for the year would be teaching our class to hand sew felt dolls to be given to an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. I remember how difficult it was to learn to sew such tiny little stitches as were needed to keep the stuffing inside the dolls. I soon learned to love our art period (only one hour three times a week) and to try to make as many dolls as well as I could.

Continue reading →

Posted in Needlework/Arts/Crafts | Leave a comment

Beautiful book for making hand made felt dolls

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Iiiireader

Felt Wee Folk – New Adventures: 120 Enchanting Dolls

By: Salley Mavor

Rating: 5 of 5

feltweefolkIn “Felt Wee Folk New Adventures”, there are so many types of dolls – boys and girls. They are made with a variety of materials including small wooden beads for heads and pipe cleaners for arms, legs, and wings. Felt, however, is the primary material used for these dolls.

The author gives detailed instructions on how to photocopy her patterns and create templates (if you plan to make more than one or two of the same dolls.) As I am heavy into crafting, there wasn’t anything I needed to purchase before beginning a couple of the doll projects. I have already completed the first two I started and am ready to do some more.

Continue reading →

Posted in Needlework/Arts/Crafts | Leave a comment

Another good book in the Blue Heron series

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Iiiireader

In Your Dreams (The Blue Heron Series Book 4)

By: Kristan Higgins

Rating: 5 of 5

inyourdreams“In Your Dreams” is another great addition to a fun and funny series by Kristan Higgins. In this story, Emmeline (a police officer) and Jack (favored son of the Blue Heron winemakers) get together in usual Blue Heron series fashion. Jack actually does Em a great favor by being her date at her ex-fiance’s wedding – an event that she is dreading but has to go to. Jack is dealing with PTSD after saving the lives of some but not all of the victims of a drunken car accident – everyone thinks he is a hero but he is busy blaming himself for not doing more. Add that Em is dealing with her slightly wacko family and Jack his more than slightly wacko ex-wife and the stage is set for a Kristan Higgins novel.

Continue reading →

Posted in Romance | Leave a comment

Second book in the series is as good as the first

Posted on February 16, 2015 by Iiiireader

A Dollar Short (The Bottom Dollar Series Book 2)

By: Karin Gillespie

Rating: 5 of 5

adollarshortThis is the story of two sisters who were raised in Cayboo Creek. Chiffon was the beauty queen, with a mother who drug her around the pageant route. Her sister Chenille as the studious one – not quite pageant material – but pushed to be top dog in the academic contests. They have grown apart and see each other seldom though they live not too many hours away from each other.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction/Literature | Leave a comment

Great start to a mystery series about collectibles

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Iiiireader

A Killer Collection (Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries Book 1)

By: Ellery Adams

Rating: 5 of 5

akillercollection“A Killer Collection” is the debut book in a mystery series by Ellery Adams about antiques and collectibles. I have read another series by Ms. Adams (The Hope Street Church Mysteries) and enjoyed all of them. I really enjoyed this new book and found it quite different from the previous books I have read by this author.

Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment

What would happen if the US was attached with an EMP

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Iiiireader

One Second After

By: William R. Forstchen

Rating: 3.5 of 5

onesecondafterI read this book a few years ago. It was extremely thought provoking – what would happen if an EMP was detonated over the United States and we lost all of our power grid? What exactly would that mean? What everyday things would we suddenly be doing without?

I thought the book was well written but in some ways it went a little over the top for me. It seems that the author degraded society much more quickly than I would think it would happen, especially in a small town. I could see some very rough things happening in large cities where people have no access to water or food apart from what is on hand at any given moment.

Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment

Funny book with great characters

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Iiiireader

Bet Your Bottom Dollar (The Bottom Dollar Series Book 1)

By: Karin Gillespie

Rating: 5 of 5

betyourbottomdollarsI loved this book. I live in the South and while, to a degree, the individuals in this book were a bit over the top, they are completely based on types of people you can run into every day. They made me laugh but still warmed my heart as it was obvious that they cared deeply about one another.

While the story is centered around Elizabeth Polk, her friends and family in Cayboo Creek were a great part of why I enjoyed the book. From finding Atalee’s dentures in different places in the store to Taffy’s incessant desire to be “high class” without understanding exactly what that means, I was kept laughing throughout the book. Even the blurbs at the beginning of each title were hysterical and a source of fun to share with my husband.

Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction/Literature | Leave a comment

Another fun book in the Hope Street Church mystery series

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Iiiireader

The Root of All Evil (Hope Street Church Mysteries Book 4)

By: Ellery Adam

Rating: 5 of 5

therootofallevil“The Root of All Evil” is the fourth book in the Hope Street Church Mystery series. The whole gang is back again. There is so much going on in this book, it really jumps along as you read.

Cooper is now working in a managerial position at Make It Work and there is a problem at work – it appears that someone has been pilfering the work machines. The boss wants Cooper and the other manager to figure out who is responsible and, much as it goes against the grain, Cooper knows she has to figure it out. Cooper also is trying to figure out just what is going on with her relationship with her boyfriend Nathan. They have been together as a couple for more than a year but the relationship is taking a very different course than what she has learned to expect.

Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment

Lots of fun in a West Texas small town

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Iiiireader

Bringing in the Thieves (The Joyful Noise Mysteries Book 1)

By: Lora Lee

Rating: 5 of 5

bringinginthethieves“Bringing in the Thieves” is the debut mystery by Lora Lee who also writes romance stories. It is set in western Texas and the heroine (Frankie Lou) is the daughter of a preacher. Ms. Lee is clearly in her element here – she is from the Hill Country of Texas (really more mid-state than west) and is, herself, the daughter of a minister.

Frankly, nothing is sacred here. Ms. Lee skewers the police, the church and its members, Big Hair, southern manners, cosmetic surgery, politicians, and everyone and everything else. I found myself laughing at some of her over-the-top dialog, especially anything to do with Miss Nettie – the elderly neighbor of Frankie Lou who clearly rules the town by the sheer force of her big personality in her tiny little body.

Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment