My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Another short story. Too much romance not enough action. Didn’t care for the main character. So, um, meh. But don’t take it from me. Many reviewers have given it high praise.
Category: Reviews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Another short story. I love M. Pax’s writing. I even like her story lines. This one had me involved until the end.
And that’s just the problem. It ends far too soon. I can’t wait to read some of her longer works.
The nicest part of these short stories is they allow that ‘treading water’ time between books I need to review. There was a need to cleanse the reading palate.
I have been reading Ms. Pax’s stories from Smashwords (mostly for free or $.99) which means I read them on my Moon Reader Pro app. I love this app because I can use the text-to-speech feature that keeps me focused and I can vary the speed and pitch to push my reading speed while staying engaged.
Check out M. Pax when you get the chance.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was an intriguing story. It’s pretty good as short stories go. But as all short stories, it leaves me wanting much more. I would love to see it developed into a novel.
Coming to Rosemont by Barbara Hinske
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well, this was a quick read. And entertaining. Perfect for reading after a darker read, that left me nightmare prone. It is light and inspiring. My faith in ‘humane’ beings is restored.
I loved the main character and her passion for life and doing what is right. I loved that she was a senior citizen who has a great relationship with her grown children. I love that she was able to move out on her own and follow her path.It sure is a relief to read this after so many Young Adult books which can give the impression that only the young deserve a story. And though this book is about an older person, I think YA’s would like it as well.
So why, then, am I giving it only three stars? It was well written. It kept me engaged until the end. All I can come up with is that it left me feeling like I just watched a Lifetime movie. Not enough depth, too predictable, and far more fiction than my favorite sci-fi’s and fantasies. Or have I become far too cynical that I thought I was? Okay, I have just talked my way to a four stars. After all, a B- is still a B. And the thing is… I think I am curious enough to want to see what happens in book 2.
By the way, this was a free-from author read for a buddy read. Thank you for the opportunity.
Divine Intervention by Cheryl Kaye Tardif
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is going to be one of my shorter reviews. I think.
Though I love Cheryl Kaye Tartif’s writing style and enjoyed her other books thoroughly, I don’t like murder mysteries. The saving grace was I liked the main characters.
There is an added feature of parapsychological talents involved in solving the crimes. But mostly is was a murder mystery.
Still, I will read the rest of the series, Gotta know what happens next, ya know?
Prodigal Angel by N.R. Champagne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Disclosure: I was gifted this Kindle version of the book for an honest review.
As for star rating I would have given the story 3 1/2 stars. Not that the story was bad. It could just be me. I am a little over angel and or demon books. That isn’t the author’s fault. It is just what I have spent a lot of time reading for other authors. Luckily, the book doesn’t label the people as angels and demons per se. They are just other beings.
There is a lot of death and destruction that would have had me leaving the book behind, but the main character, Miranda, had won me over. I thought she was well developed. She felt real to me. And I liked her.
Many times the story gets a bit preachy on ecology and global warming. But since I believe we need to wake up and start being stewards of this planet, I didn’t mind. Others might find that off putting.
One of the fun parts of the book is getting to go along for the ride, be it bicycle or trailer truck. Miranda has quite the adventure while staying healthy.
There is a bit of romance, not too much. There are a few triggers for some people. But the bad people get their due.
Give it a try. You may like it. I might like it better if I read it again later.
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a delightful series! I am sorry to be finished with book 2. I do hope there will be more. For the young adult this widens the world to seek out life beyond the comfort zone. For those of us that are older and for whatever reason bound to our situation of home and hearth, this lets out our wanderlust. We travel with Ginny and her friends to fulfill the requests of her belated Aunt Peg’s ‘scavenger hunt’ listed in her 13 blue envelopes.
For me, it was during a couple weeks of the summer when I chose to watch over other walls than my usual four. I was house sitting for relatives and friends. It would still be me sitting somewhere. But it got me out of my bed and on other sofas. Meanwhile, reading this special book, I felt I was really traveling, after all. packing and unpacking was involved. So though my real life was spent doing my usual within the same city I live in, I was in London, England, Amsterdam, and Paris.
I read finished reading this over a week ago, already returned the book to the library. But I loved it so much that I think when I feel the wanderlust, I will look this series up again. It was that much fun.
Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates by Tom Robbins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As most of the Tom Robbins novels I have read, this gave me many smiles and chuckles. I love Mr. Robbins’s sense of humor, depth of research, and verbal diarhea. No, not as a steady diet. I have to be in the mood for his ways and stories. The fact that I have owned the hardback for decades is proof of how I must pace my intake of his work.
I waited too long. The last time I tried to read this book I realized the font was too small to enjoy. So I waited until I could afford the Audible version. Even then I wasn’t ready. But this was on my virtual and physical shelves the longest and I wanted to set it free of those binds.
Aubible is such a wonderful system for those of us who need the help. Not only is the story easier to read with the assistance of the narrator, but, I felt, deeply enhanced. Keith Szarabajka seemed to have the innate ability to channel Tom Robbins. He had characterizations for for the population in this book. His sexy deep voice gives the main character, Switters, a bit of a 007 quality.
Looking at all the reviews of this book I see that the ratings range from the one star to five. I really think this is due to moods and lack of audio version to enjoy. For those that couldn’t stand the book, please do as I did and put it off until you are ready to enjoy the nuances Tom throws into all his book. Yes, a little crazy helps the read.
Bountiful Women: Large Women’s Secrets for Living the Life They Desire by Bonnie Bernell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was a slow read for me. Not that the writing was bad, but because it was the paperback version and the font was small. But it wasn’t so small that I couldn’t take it in small doses.
Going deeper, the information that gave reminders that all of us need; that we are okay as we are. Fat shaming has never helped a bountiful woman or man to lose weight. That those who are of bountiful size have had enough with dieting that doesn’t work. That trying to hide so as to avoid the critical voices, hides us from those who might be our friends or more.
Did I learn anything new here? No. Just some affirmations I had forgotten. Moreover, I wish the book had started with the ending stories. The beginning seemed a dream for those of us who have fixed incomes. The suggestions we go to health spas or invest in counseling that can also be exorbitant. Instead offering ideas to find those positive beings to come into our lives that create the kind of support we all need.
So, sorry, it’s just okay but worth the read. Find the bits, as I did, and pass it on.
I registered this one with BookCrossers, the BCID here: 473-12817834
The Sound of Crickets by Marissa Farrar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Bittersweet blogging. Those are the words that stand out in my mind when thinking about this book. I finished it last night just before Sandman Time. So I was left hoping I could remember to do the review justice when I finally put fingers to keyboard.
For my blogging friends, the senarios presented are not so far fetched. We find people we consider friends, from all over the world, with differing opinions, who we have never met. We care deeply when they report of illness or loss in their lives. We feel anger when we see that they are making mistakes that we know they must to learn who they are. We feel elation at those finding love or giving birth. We share ‘Ah ha!’ moments together and wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?” when they present simplistic marvels within their blogs. Most of all we enjoy support and support others in the process. The Sound of Crickets embraced it all.
Spoilers keep wanting to slip out as I write this. Though at times in the book, you can see what is coming, still it is lovingly fed out to us, byte by byte. There are a few laugh out loud moments and others where you might need your kleenex, but it is worth the ride.
By the way, don’t feel like you wouldn’t know what to do with a book that blogs out the lives of four women. If you love books using letter, email, or tweets to convey the story, this works just as well. The fact, that these four didn’t know each other at all when they set up this blog leads us all through their getting to know each other and themselves while living their lives.
I wanted a book that would help me relax and go to sleep. The title drew me in. But this book isn’t boring at all. No, it isn’t a thriller/suspense novel, but the characters draw you in and lead you down roads that you might not expect. It gives a glimpse of humanity at its best and most human. I do hope others will pick it up as it is worth the read.
Dear Marissa Farrar (author), PLEASE, a sequel??? I want to see the characters grow even more, maybe add a few more bloggers?
Bittersweet blogging. Those are the words that stand out in my mind when thinking about this book. I finished it last night just before Sandman Time. So I was left hoping I could remember to do the review justice when I finally put fingers to keyboard.
For my blogging friends, the senarios presented are not so far fetched. We find people we consider friends, from all over the world, with differing opinions, who we have never met. We care deeply when they report of illness or loss in their lives. We feel anger when we see that they are making mistakes that we know they must to learn who they are. We feel elation at those finding love or giving birth. We share ‘Ah ha!’ moments together and wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?” when they present simplistic marvels within their blogs. Most of all we enjoy support and support others in the process. The Sound of Crickets embraced it all.
Spoilers keep wanting to slip out as I write this. Though at times in the book, you can see what is coming, still it is lovingly fed out to us, byte by byte. There are a few laugh out loud moments and others where you might need your kleenex, but it is worth the ride.
By the way, don’t feel like you wouldn’t know what to do with a book that blogs out the lives of four women. If you love books using letter, email, or tweets to convey the story, this works just as well. The fact, that these four didn’t know each other at all when they set up this blog leads us all through their getting to know each other and themselves while living their lives.
I wanted a book that would help me relax and go to sleep. The title drew me in. But this book isn’t boring at all. No, it isn’t a thriller/suspense novel, but the characters draw you in and lead you down roads that you might not expect. It gives a glimpse of humanity at its best and most human. I do hope others will pick it up as it is worth the read.
Dear Marissa Farrar (author), PLEASE, a sequel??? I want to see the characters grow even more, maybe add a few more bloggers?
Darswords 
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