Sixteen different short stories with Fantasy as the recurring theme

Glimpses: an Anthology of 16 Short Fantasy Stories: An exclusive collection of fantasy fiction

By: Sarah KL Wilson, Victoria DeLuis and Meg Cowley, Adrian G. Hilder, Nicholas Kotar, Kevin Partner, Killian C. Carter, Kevin Potter, S.K. Randolph, Stefan M. Nardi, Eloise Hamann, Shawn Robert Smith, Craig A. Price Jr., Tom Hansen, J.C. Kang, Georgina, Makalani, and Cameron Way Smith

Rating: 5 of 5

I usually do not read Fantasy as a genre. I was enticed to this book, in full disclosure, as a family member is one of the authors whose work is featured in this book.

I read all sixteen works and was surprised at the breadth that Fantasy encompasses. From the “The Killing Fields” by Sarah KL Wilson where an Empress with a real attitude holds much power to the “The Eresutna” by Nicholas Kotar where monks and would be monks confront a creature intent on punishing those who break vows to the “Forces of Magic: TheTesting Book 0.5” by Shawn Robert Smith in which coming of age young men and women discover if they have magical gifts, even those magical gifts which are neither desirable nor welcome to “Flight of Flame” by Cameron Wayne Smith in which two sworn enemies find a way, albeit through dire straits, in which they can co-exist.

Continue reading

Posted in Science Fiction/Fantasy | Leave a comment

Great introductory book about George Washington with lots of lovely illustrations

My Little Golden Book About George Washington

By: Author: Lori H. Houran/Illustrator: Viviana Garofoli

Rating: 5 of 5

I was happy to find that Little Golden Book had introductory books about both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I picked these up for my grandchildren to read when they are at my house.

While my granddaughter is too young (at 2) to sit through the entire reading, my grandson (who is 4) enjoyed hearing the story. Both children liked the illustrations.

The book starts with George Washington as a boy, then on to his days in the English military, to the War of Independence, to his days as President and then finally to his retirement (back to the hobbies he enjoyed as a young boy.)

There are also some interesting facts listed in the back of the book. All together, I find it a great introductory book about the first President of the United States.

Posted in Childrens | Leave a comment

A good addition to an engaging series

A Palette for Murder (An Aurora Anderson Mystery) (Volume 3)

By:Sybil Johnson

Rating: 4 of 5

This is the second book in this series I have read. The first one was a bit confusing to me but now that I have a background in the story, this new book flowed well for me. Because of this, I suggest reading the books in order. It will help keep the characters straight and also give you a chance to see the development of the plot line and characters as the story moves rapidly from book to book.

It can hot in Southern California where almost no one has air conditioning. I know as I lived there most of my life. The local of the book is a beach side community near LA – I’m kind of reminded of Hermonsa or Redondo Beach. The people in this town are fairly close (which wasn’t my experience in LA!) but nice to know there are areas were there is still a small town vibe in such an urban spot.

Continue reading

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment

A perfect lightly coloring journal book for my needs right now

Grateful Thankful Blessed – A Beautiful Gratitude Journal

By: Simone Phillips

Rating: 5 of 5

When I first received this gratitude journal, I thought that it might be a little difficult to come up with entries that show that I am grateful, thankful and blessed. Little did I know that a health crisis of huge magnitude awaited just ahead of me.

I was hospitalized with severe pneumonia and low oxygen. A recipe for disaster. The doctors have told me that I was “just this close” but to what they still don’t want to refer.

That was on November 10, 2017. I was released from the hospital nine days later – weak, still looking for answers as to what happened, with a long recovery ahead – but alive.

Continue reading

Posted in Adult Color Books | Leave a comment

Beautifully written love story to start this new series

Beautifully written love story to start this new series

By:May McGoldrick (Nikoo & Jim McGoldrick)

Rating: 5 of 5

I recently read a short story by the writing team that makes up May McGoldrick (Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick.) It has in a book called “Christmas in Kilts” and was by far my favorite short story in the book. I was so impressed that I wanted to read the first in their new series, “Romancing the Scot”. I was also pleased to find the writing team has an older series that will ties in as well (previous generations of The Pennington Family.)

The story in this book is beautiful and lyrical, frankly one of the best that I have read in years. There is intrigue and plot points and the romance is lovely. However, there is even more to the story. The writing team has taken the time in blend into this story true events about the time. From the sad deaths on the battlefield to the plight of the deaf/mute and the Irish, there are events that actually took place which are melded seamlessly into the storyline.

Continue reading

Posted in Romance | Leave a comment

44 Lovely Horse inspired designs with black backgrounds – printed one side of the page

The Wonderful World of Horses: Midnight Edition

By: Simone Phillips

Rating: 5 of 5

This coloring book is the midnight version of the revised second edition of “The Wonderful World of Horses” by Simone Phillips. That means that the designs are printed on black backgrounds. The designs are still black line work with white space for coloring, which is how I prefer this style of book. That gives me the blank white areas that I use for shading and blending. It is simply that the backgrounds are already finished in black.

The designs have a lovely hand-drawn quality with little extras such as cross hatch shading on the horses. There is a flowing look to Ms. Phillips designs which conveys a real sense of movement. The designs are detailed but do not contains areas which are too intricate and small to color.

Continue reading

Posted in Adult Color Books | Leave a comment

Suspense is there but hidden under too many plot points

The House on Foster Hill

By: Jaime Jo Wright

Rating: 3 of 5

While I am a Christian, I rarely read Christian fiction. Perhaps that is why “The House on Foster Hill” did not resonate as well with me. I was looking for a story with a Christian message (or perhaps just a few references to Scripture) and instead found myself reading a suspense book with a mystery that was, unfortunately, all too easy to solve.

This story is set in two time periods, present and a little over a hundred years in the past. The setting, Foster Hill House, is the same; however, the characters are quite different. In the past, we have Ivy Thorpe who has turned away from God after her beloved brother has passed and she has immersed herself in remembrances of the dead. In the present, there is Kaine Prescott, a young woman who has also pulled back her belief after her husband’s death.

Continue reading

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment

Fast-paced thriller that could be lifted from today or tomorrow’s headlines

The Whispering Room: A Jane Hawk Novel

By: Dean Koontz

Rating: 5 of 5

This is only the second Dean Koontz book that I have read and nothing about “Ashley Bell” could have prepared me for this hard-driving thriller. In “The Whispering Room”, Jane Hawk has already discovered much of the plans of an elite group who are intent on pressing their vision of the future (and the rewrite of history) to their view.

Jane is a one-woman wreaking crew who is sworn to try to stop this from happening. By the end of the book, I have to say that if anyone could stop a huge conspiracy, it would be this woman.

The author has given her a personality that feels strong and yet still womanly. She loves children and she hates those who would hurt them and destroy their futures. Pretty simple, right?

Continue reading

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment

This series just keeps getting better and better

Seeds of Revenge (A Greenhouse Mystery) (Volume 3)

By: Wendy Tyson

Rating: 5 of 5

I’ve read all three books in this series and am really impressed by the developing plot and characters in the stories. I highly suggest reading the books in order so you can understand how characters have evolved and gone from point A to point B.

Megan Sawyer has thoroughly moved from the legal practice she left at the beginning of books one. She is now a farmer and owns a diner in the small town of Winsome, PA. She is trying to make a go of it and figure out how to bring in much needed revenue during the winter months. She’s also in the midst of a developing relationship with the town vet after being crushed when her beloved young husband died in service to his country several years before.

Continue reading

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment

Fun book that I read stand-alone though sixth in mystery series

How the Finch Stole Christmas

By: J. R. Ripley

Rating: 5 of 5

This is the first mystery I have read by J.R. Ripley. When I picked it up, I had no idea that it was sixth in a series. The book starts with relationships in place but, for the most part, it was very easy to pick up those relationship (though without history, of course) and let the logically written plot run its course.

The whodunnit was something I figured out during the course of the book because of a few hints; however, there were the red herrings left that steered me off course from time to time.

Continue reading

Posted in Mystery/Suspense/Thriller | Leave a comment