Category: Kindle



Even You: A novelEven You: A novel by Marilyn Oser

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I was given this book for an honest review by NetGalley.com.

Warning: There are trigger issues in this book as my tags suggest, this book has sexual abuse, incest, grief that if you’re not ready for them this book may not be for you. And though the two main characters are in a lesbian relationship that doesn’t play much of a part. It is more about getting over the death of a loved one.

All of the above said I think this was a very interesting book. I like the tool the author used of the journals of the lost partner. These journals were of the time when the lost partner was a young girl in the 1940s. The widowed person left behind is dealing with this in 1995 I think it was in Oklahoma at the time when McVeigh did his dastardly deed. The evils of the present (1995) play against the bigotries and misogyny of the 1940s. And against all of that is the bereavement and depression the main character must contain.

I don’t think I’m doing this book justice. There is a lot here, a lot of story. I like the main character, but my sympathies/empathies hurt for her. Through the journal, I learned to like the partner. We don’t learn a lot about her as an adult but if the main character loves her than we do too.

This book would be good for a younger generation who didn’t live through the 40s who might not remember the 90s. Especially in the South. It is history made personal.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book. Thank you, Marilyn Oser for writing a very touching book. Warnings aside, I recommend this book highly.

View all my reviews


Return of the Matka-Zem (The Sorain Chronicles)Return of the Matka-Zem by Deborah Chanley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sci-fi/fantasy Yay! Okay, no space-travel or space-wars. Oh yeah, that’s what makes this more real than male sci-fi. But this author didn’t waste time showing her research about science. You see, in the sci-fi realm, without the science, life on other planets, or those same lives on our Earth has to take on the label: fantasy. But that becomes the problem doesn’t it. If we added in all that extra research and boring science facts that the main male sci-fi authors put in, we lose story. And this was full of story!

Oh, a bit about the title. Return of anything sounds like it should be a sequel of something. But you’ll get it as you start to read the story.

I was able to get the Audible version to read along with my Kindle edition. Steven Barnett (Narrator) was great! I usually can’t stand listening to stories whose main characters are female read by a man. Not that they can’t tell a great tale but as they project female voices they sound comical. That usually takes me right out of the story. But Steven Barnett grew on me. I soon could see how many voices he was able to act out and keep separate. And after my initial giggle of his Matka-Zem, Valencia, I found he was able to portray this young woman in all her flaws and strengths. Great job!

I love the characters in this story. There are the Matka-Zem and her romantic body guard and then, once they hit San Francisco, we get the human, Donna. I love her! She helps the humans who are reading the story to ask the questions and get the answers the aliens wouldn’t have thought of. She is delightful. And she has my biggest flaw: constant talking. I love her the most! We are so glad she is along when the get to the Matka-Zem’s planet. She steps up and show her strength when needed.

If you get the chance, this is a fun book to read. I can’t wait for the next in the series as I want more of these characters and strange new worlds!

View all my reviews


Memory House (Memory House Collection #1)Memory House by Bette Lee Crosby

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was given this book by the author for an honest review.

I usually like Bette Lee Crosby’s stories. This one was no different. I liked the story. I liked the characters. I liked watching the growth of the main character to a better life than what she had before.

Does this feel like it is leading somewhere? Well, it is. After getting to know the not so good current flame and watching it fade out, I was looking forward to getting to know the bicycle rider and the new flame. The book seems to assume that you remember these characters from other books. Um… no. I think the story would done better had that assumption not ruled the day. It all seemed to end far too abruptly. For all that leading up to the magick that the memory house contains it just fizzled and left me wanting to throw the book away. I don’t feel that way often. But I just felt cheated.

Still, outside of the literary crash landing at the end, I still liked the book. Maybe folks that don’t read 150 books a year would have more memory of characters in other books written by the same author. I have trouble remembering my own name, so…

Anyway, there seems to be a lot of 5 starred rating so maybe you would love it, too. Enjoy.

View all my reviews


How To Crochet BOX SET 2 IN 1: 10 Most Popular Crochet Patterns For Sale + 20 Basic Tunisan Crochet Stitches & Patterns: ( Learn to Read Crochet Patterns, ... crochet, Tunisian Crochet, Toymaking)How To Crochet BOX SET 2 IN 1: 10 Most Popular Crochet Patterns For Sale + 20 Basic Tunisan Crochet Stitches & Patterns: by Nicky Henderson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Once again, I didn’t read this word for word. Still researching for hats to make for friends, family and caps for cancer.

This first book of the boxed set is more about setting up a crochet business. Not sure I will ever want to do that, but good to know there are books showing how. There was the cute hat with a butterfly built into the hat (not appliqued on) on a cute little girl. I may try to make this some time as one of the caps for children with cancer. I don’t think it would adapt well for adults. I could be wrong. Been known to happen, Wink. Wink. But the cap is long enough to cover the ears and there are no holes between stitches to make a poor bare head cold.

The next book, I found the pictures quite easy to see and understand. I do want to learn to do the Tunisian stitches but I don’t have any of those long hooks. I think this type of crochet is classy looking like knitting. But this book will have to wait until I get a few of the hats I have in mind finished and on their way to the new owners.

What I am saying is that I will keep this book handy for later. Once I make a pattern or two from it I will add on to this review.

View all my reviews


Ocean's Justice (Ocean's Gift - Turbulence and Triumph Series, #1)Ocean’s Justice by Demelza Carlton

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Okay, I’ve been reading a lot of the reviews for this book that are all four and five stars. I don’t get it. Maybe it’s me. But I usually love a good book about mermaids. After all, it was my favorite fantasy when I was a girl. I was a water child that would have been swimming 24/7 had I been allowed.

But I just couldn’t get into this book. I found it boring. I had to make myself pick it up to read. Maybe it is because the mermaid is a victim and is seen as someone that needs protection. To make matters worse, she doesn’t understand the language. Even still she is in a lot of dialogue that seems impossible for someone who can’t understand or speak it.

Sex is the other issue. If it isn’t the bad guys seeking to rape her it is her puritanic ‘saviour’ who must protect her ‘virginity’ for which she clearly needs no such protection. By the way, warning to those who don’t like erotica–it’s here and doesn’t seem to belong. I’m not a prude. I like erotica at times. But it just felt out of place here.

It is only in the end of the book, leaving us in a semi-cliffhanger, that we find her skills and madness. I am not in the least interested in reading the next book.

Still, there are plenty of high ratings so it may just be me. Enjoy.

View all my reviews


Crochet Hats: How to Crochet Lovely Hats Like a Guru: (Crochet, Crochet for Beginners, How to Crochet, Crochet Patterns, Crochet Projects, Knitting)Crochet Hats: How to Crochet Lovely Hats Like a Guru: by Emily Leonard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two things in my life happened almost coincidentally: A dear friend sent me a lot of wonderful yarn for Christmas and I found out about a group here in Christmas Valley that crochet or knit hats for cancer patients. Hence, my checking out all these books about making hats, and scarves, etc. Okay. I was crocheting before that but I didn’t have much yarn to put to a project so I stuck to crocheting with plarn (yarn made from plastic shopping bags). I enjoyed the things I was able to create and felt I was doing good for mother earth by recycling, but my hands were starting to hurt with the type of crocheting I was doing. Now I have marvelously soft yarn to “play” with.

Oh, yeah, the review for the book. This one has a few patterns that look like they’d be fun to try so I’m going to try and keep it handy as I expand my repertoire. Granted I haven’t tried any of the patterns yet, but all the bits and pieces you expect in patterns were there so I assume they will come together as the pictures suggest. If they don’t I will come back to this review and revise accordingly.

View all my reviews


Slouch Crochet Hat Pattern: One Day Crochet GuideSlouch Crochet Hat Pattern: One Day Crochet Guide by Eva Solis

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Don’t bother. Nothing here but a nice cover picture. If you are one of those people that can look at a picture and make the thing, this is the book for you. For the rest of us who do better with a pattern, this is not it.

View all my reviews


Ugly Girl Ties the Knot (Ugly Girl Series #2)Ugly Girl Ties the Knot by Alice Wasser

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ah, shoot! I am sorry to leave this series behind. I loved that these were perfect people in love but rather real people with real problems that don’t easily resolve in a bundle of flowers and a ring.

The main character, Millie has a few extra pounds and self-esteem issues. Her main squeeze, Sam is a quadriplegic. He’s cute, but, can you see? Real issues right off the bat. Yet these two are engaged.

Jealousy is the worst part of this book. I hate reading romance stories just because of this irrational emotion. But with the lighter attitude of the series mixed with some heavy-duty issues, I think this is an almost impossible combination to pull off. But Ms. Alice Wasser does a great job of it! And the jealousy issue drops by the sideline.

This is an example of what I wish more authors would take on. Stop writing about perfect, skinny, beautiful people. They don’t represent the reader. Give us diversity and let us into lives that might be more interesting, if more challenging. Good job, Ms. Wasser! Um…any chance of another after the baby is born?

View all my reviews


Pulled (Flawed, A Short Story)Pulled by Becca J. Campbell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a cute little story to add to the Flawed series. I loved the young girl who was the main character. I loved the way Becca J. Campbell tells her stories. They always seem believable. Her writing is clear.

BUT I hate short stories. They always leave me with more questions than answers. This is no different. Though the story didn’t end in a cliffhanger, it still left me wondering what happened next. What causes the Pull? How did it start?

Oh, it is refreshing to read about a person that isn’t in her teen to mid-twenties.

I hope there is more about this character coming up.

View all my reviews


Confessions of an Ugly Girl (Ugly Girl Series #1)Confessions of an Ugly Girl by Alice Wasser

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finally! A book that isn’t about the thinnest, sexiest, and most beautiful people. Is anyone else as bored as I am by this trend in books and movies/television? Heck, I’ve gotten to where I can’t tell actors and actresses apart as they all attempt to look the same. And they are always striving to be the same age. Don’t other ages, shapes, shades, orientations, etc. deserve adventures, love, money, their story told? And don’t get me started about the lack of strong females, having many of them in the same show. Look, I’ve spent my last year reading books by women with female main characters. Once I was convinced of this lack I started seeing how badly our reflections in films, have also been in short supply. Oh, and take a look at the news, no matter what channel you watch. Okay, stepping down from my soap box…

So when I saw this title for free I had to grab it. It was fun and yet had good strong bones of reality. The main character isn’t needing a man. She has a great career with plenty of income to cover all her needs and wants. The job is boring but she likes it. But she would like to meet someone and have romance in her life. Her perception of herself is that she is ugly and fat. Is it her reality that keeping those things from her, or her own self-image?

Then she meets someone who’s picture shows he’s far too handsome for her. He likes her, flirts with her… on the phone. When they meet she finds she has some of her own biases to overcome. I love how well the author expresses this relationship and its growth.

Because the main character is an actuary the book is full of random facts that I feel add a lot to the story.

Oh, and I may as well include that the love interest is a quadriplegic. Now here are some life issues to deal with. This is such an interesting story that I had to grab book two to see what happens next.

Please, if you get the chance, read this book and see how some of the non-rich and famous and gorgeous people find their way to love.

View all my reviews

Amin Academy

Education, Information, Motivation

WhatIf.in.net - Alternate Realities

Where Curiosity Meets Creativity

Luso Loonie — Devin Meireles

Portuguese-Canadian Writing About This Portuguese Thing of Ours

UNDER THE WILL... OVER THE DRAMA...

Inheritance. Narcissism. Turf. Welcome to the family.

Selma

Finding the extra in the ordinary

Sip, Snack, See

A Blog About Food and Travels

Golu lodhi

I upload photos & videos Golu lodhi village pairakhedi

Hunza

Travel,Tourism, precious story "Now in hundreds of languages for you."

IsabellaJoshua

DISCOVER A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

intricate cantrips

twisted yarns, unraveled

Introverted Growth

The Introvert's Roadmap to Self Discovery and Growth

Histopedia

story telling from history

KaustubhaReflections

Where ancient wisdom meets modern technology. Stories that illuminate the wonders of science, culture, and life — crafted with human creativity and a touch of AI magic.

Roads Lesser Traveled

Life is just down the road lesser traveled....

Enlarge my heart

In the Quiet Space of a Benedictine Heart: Seeking God in Every Moment

A.M. Barnich

My Author Page

TheEnlightenedMind622

Open Your Mind