Category: Reading


Review: Soul by Liz Shipton


Soul (Thalassic, #3)Soul by Liz Shipton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This series is so good that I can’t stop long enough to dwell on the book I just finished and continue reading the next non-stop. Sadly, that means I can’t remember specifics about book #3. But it is full of adventure and exploration of unknown places.

What I like best about the series is the superpower of ADHD and how it affects a person. It can cause many problems, but it has surprising benefits when conquered. And even more so in these books.

After reading the author’s bio, I can see why she can write about it so believably.

I hope I’ve convinced you to give this series a try. A word of caution: There are sexy bits, but fast-forward works if you aren’t interested, and you won’t lose any story. Yet, the scenes don’t feel out of place, so they feel natural. These are for Young Adults. So…

Now I can get on with book #4!

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Review: Sand by Liz Shipton


Sand (Thalassic, #2)Sand by Liz Shipton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series is slowly becoming my favorite ever. I have recently begun to embrace the fact that ADD/ADHD is a superpower. This series embraces that, too. Check out these books’ blurbs, as I am sure I won’t do the story justice.

I couldn’t let go of book 2; it was too early, so I downloaded book 3, Soul, and had to fight myself to stay out of the book during the day. I can’t wait for the bedtime read to see what happens with Bird and her adventures.

All that and pirates, too?! Yes! This is fun, with some serious things to say to young and old readers. Please look up the Thalssic series. Enjoy!

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Review: Salt by Liz Shipton


Salt (Thalassic, #1)Salt by Liz Shipton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, it is about time for a proper dystopian story. The post-apocalyptic world and characters are all well-developed. Flawed and real. And Raw. I didn’t know there were choices, but if you don’t want a little sexuality thrown in, there is a Young Adult version. But if you don’t enjoy the small bits here and there, you can always fast forward. The story works with or without. Either way, get ready for the troubled teen, Bird.

Pirates? It’s hard to tell, sometimes, who the bad guys or good guys are. It seems realistically portrayed from a personal point of view.

Adventure, disaster, balanced with a moment or two for reflection. I love it when books work that way. If you get the chance, read the blurbs about the book. Or better yet, pick this up, and I think you may find yourself immersed in a great journey.

I couldn’t wait when this one ended, I jumped right into the sequel, Sand. What a fun series!

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All for a Good CauseAll for a Good Cause by Barbara Phinney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a quick read. If I hadn’t been sleepy, I might have read it in one go.

I’m not a fan of romance books. They get a little silly and are unrealistic from the very beginning. But this was on my ‘currently reading’ list forever, well, since 2012, so I thought I ought to finally read it.

Fun. Yes. It was fun. And at times, I chuckled at the puns that occurred. I try not to laugh out loud as it could wake my husband. But it was a cute book. You might like it. It is free on Kindle Unlimited.

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Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Airship Adventure Chronicles #1)Revenge of the Mad Scientist by Lara Nance
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I found this at the bottom of my ‘currently reading’ list (there were 85 books!), so I finally downloaded it to my Fire.

Done.

Here is the Blurb from GoodReads:
When Lady Arabella Trunkett’s father, the High Lord Minister of Urbannia is kidnapped, all clues point to the mysterious country of Gandiss and the world is thrown into political upheaval.

Arabella is convinced the more sinister nation of Carabarras is to blame, urged on by a mad scientist seeking revenge. So, she sets out on a perilous airship journey across a variety of exotic locales to save him, and halt the potential world war.

But airship pirates, secret assassins and slave traders aren’t her only trials. The fickle hand of fate has made the captain of the only airship available for charter, the man that left her at the altar. For eight years she’s wished him dead. Now he’s her only hope.
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If you like steampunk scenarios, this is for you. It was a fun read, but not my cup of tea. I didn’t hate it. And the story kept my attention until the end. There is a whole series. I didn’t feel the pull. I guess I thought differently in 2013 when I picked it up. Or maybe being snowed in gives my reading mood a sinker feeling. Whatever my experience is, do give it a chance. It is free with Kindle Unlimited.

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In Gad We Trust: A Tell-SomeIn Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some by Josh Gad
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of all, is there a connection between wishing for snow, singing to my husband, ‘Do you want to build a snowman?’ He and I laughed and and ‘pht-no’ And cold temps and snow that lasted more than a week so far, and listening to Josh Gad narrate his book? Okay, probably no connection. Still…

This was a fun book. I felt maybe one of the best autobiographies I’ve read. For a young man I feel Josh has the wisdom of an old soul. His sense of humor keeps it light even when discussing less than best times.

I highly recommend Josh’s book, especially the audiobook.

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Spellbound Box Set, Books 1-10: Paranormal Cozy MysteriesSpellbound Box Set, Books 1-10: Paranormal Cozy Mysteries by Annabel Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This boxed set has probably been on my ‘currently reading’ shelf for quite a while. Library books always take preference due to due dates. I think it was at the 85th position. I am trying to read the earliest between the newest and borrowed books. It’s a work in progress.

This set is so fun. Each book could hold its own, but I think it is more fun to binge-read them all. Think of it as a long book. Still, it didn’t take me long to get through.

I think the best part of these books is the characters. A ghost vampire, an owl familiar, a fallen angel, and a witch who didn’t know she was a magical being. But there are others, like her gorgan receptionist.

By the way, this is free with Kindle Unlimited. Text-to-speech works well with this set. We all need a little levity. Here’s a fun adventure to lift the mood.

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Monday Musings


Me. Except now I also have thousands of Kindle and Audiobooks. (Found on Facebook)

Courageous (Afterlife, #4)Courageous by Willow Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a satisfying ending to a semi-completed boxed set. I found the whole story a bit confusing until I let go of my preconceived notions of what the afterlife should be and accepted this as the author’s young adult fantasy.

The whole story is fun and a little different. Give it a try if you need an escape from the confusion of the real world.

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Per Linda: Hello! I’m here with our twenty-eighth prompt for Just Jot it January 2025. Today, our prompt is courtesy of our dearest Dan. Thank you, Dan! Please visit Dan’s blog to read his posts and say hello. And follow him while you’re there if you’re not already.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 28th, 2025 is “confusion.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!


The Afterlife Series Box SetThe Afterlife Series Box Set by Willow Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have finally finished reading not only this but the fourth book. This book was supposed to be the complete series. And probably when I got it, it was all the author had ready. But the ending was a cliffhanger. Had that been all, I would have been very disappointed.

Still, the three-book set was fun. One has to put aside theology and think of this as fantasy; the characters’ abilities were so fun. I loved the main character, Meghan, and how she cared for others.

On the other hand, the antagonist is too much.

Oh, the people you meet along the way. Einstein, can you believe it? No? Well, it’s fantasy, okay?

This is definitely a young adult series. There is far too much romance. Ugh! But hey, it’s a story, and it was a fun read.

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Our prompt today comes to us from the sensational Sadje. Thank you, Sadje! Please be sure to visit Sadje’s blog to read her posts and say hello. And follow her while you’re there if you’re not already.
Your prompt for JusJoJan January 27th, 2025 is “glamorous.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

So, to add the Jot to the above review, it was one of the abilities that appear in in fantasies is the gift of glamour. Bingo! It is used in this book set.

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