Category: Reviews


Review: Cher: The Memoir, Part One by Cher

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December 23, 2024

Cher: The Memoir, Part OneCher: The Memoir, Part One by Cher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

And the Beat Goes On for the best member of that team!

I loved, loved, loved this autobiography from one of my favorite singers from the 60s. It was a chance to relive my life. She kept me singing, dancing, or laughing during good or bad times.

Cher wrote an accessible story about part of her life. As she stated, dyslexia is one of those abilities many share, and can understand why she needed a part-time narrator. Stephanie J. Block took over the story seamlessly. Sometimes, it was hard to tell who was reading. But suddenly, there was a deep voice and accent that made you realize it was Cher. But I never could tell when Ms. Stephanie took over.

I can hardly wait for part two. But I may try to listen to this one again and add my musical playlist to bring it to life. I would love to see this as a movie or series. Cher has been through several lifetimes of good and bad times.

I highly recommend this autobiographical masterpiece. Please enjoy the audio version!

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Review: Blood, Sweat and Tiers by Nancy Warren

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December 17, 2024

Blood, Sweat and Tiers (Great Witches Baking Show #5)Blood, Sweat and Tiers by Nancy Warren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Once again, Nancy Warren and Hollis McCarthy brought a fun whodunnit adventure. The author wrote this series in such a fashion that you can catch up and know what is happening no matter where you start. I read all her Vampire Knitting Club. Then, a bit of the Book Club. I found 5 and 6 of the Great Witches Baking Show when I needed something light. But I couldn’t read the tiny print that said which number in the series I started on. So I started on number 6 and then just finished number 5.

As usual, Hollis narrated each character so well that I knew whose point of view I was visiting. I can’t wait until I can get caught up with the series on Libby or buy the Audible version soon.

I hope you can enjoy this series. It’s light, even if it is a murder mystery.

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Review: Crumbs and Misdemeanors by Nancy Warren

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December 16, 2024

Crumbs and Misdemeanors (Great Witches Baking Show #6)Crumbs and Misdemeanors by Nancy Warren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Because of the availability at Libby, I am reading this series out of order. After the fun of GingerDead, I found book 6. I dislike reading things out of order, but I figured Nancy Warren does such a nice job of filling in the needed details from the previous books. I didn’t feel I’d get lost. And I don’t think I did.

This book went nearly as fast as the Gingerdead novella. It was a fun ride.

Hollis McCarthy narrated this one, also. She could voice all the characters so well that I often forgot it was just one woman reading aloud.

Nancy Warren’s series are all so light and cozy, yet engaging. I don’t like that mysteries are always about murder. But everything else is fun. It’s always an adventure.

It was one of those sleepless nights, so I not only finished this one, but I went on to the other one Libby had available. Again, way out of order. On to number 5!

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Review: Gingerdead House by Nancy Warren

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December 15, 2024

Gingerdead HouseGingerdead House by Nancy Warren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After the month it took me to read the Complete Oz book, I needed something light and short. This one was available to listen to on Libby just when I needed it.

Do you need a fun little who-done-it with a fun character who happens to be a witch? It took three hours. The bad side is that it created a crazy desire for gingerbread cookies. Luckily, we don’t have any, and I don’t like cooking.

Hollis McCarthy is a fun narrator who can act out the various characters that show up. And she was able to make me laugh at the main character, Poppy Wilkinson, with her foibles and sense of humor.

For this reason, and that I know I can’t be let down by any Nancy Warren book, I picked up a few other Great Witches Baking Show novels to brighten my sudden depression. This is not the time to get caught up in that. Right? On to the fun stories!

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Review: The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection: All 22 Stories by L. Frank Baum

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December 13, 2024

The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection: All 22 StoriesThe Complete Wizard of Oz Collection: All 22 Stories by L. Frank Baum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whew! That took a month to get through. And though I might have said it was repetitive and boring at first. I gradually felt pulled into the many implications of history and how foward thinking this author was for his time.

I listened on Audible . Eric Vincent (Narrator) did a fantastic job with his many voices of the population of Oz. At first, I was a little put off with his female voices but soon saw that even within the group of young women he had to bring to life somehow.

I wish I could have found the illustrations that were in the paper books I read to my children so long ago. That was the only thing missing.

Interesting things found in these books written in the early 1900s:

The first transgender person I can remember being presented. (Tip/Ozma)

Women at war to reseat the throne, ejecting the wizard.

Clever ways to help people talk through problems and find peaceful solutions.

When I read a few of these to my kids I felt the language rather boring, but we all loved them anyway. Now hearing someone else read the books, I fell into the rhythm and enjoyed all the adventures. I’m rather missing it. Oh, yeah! I’m reading Wicked soon. Now I will have a deeper understanding of the world that story is based in. I don’t know about Wicked yet. But I know the main lessons of Oz were kindness and helping others. Not a bad set of mottos and goals to aim for.

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Review: Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit That Is Transforming America by Luis A. Miranda Jr.

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November 17, 2024

Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit That Is Transforming AmericaRelentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit That Is Transforming America by Luis A. Miranda Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lin-Manuel Miranda was the one I thought of when I put this on hold on Libby. I want to get better acquainted with Hamilton and the music. I admire that composer; I’m not yet in love with the musical like everyone else. Still, the picture on the front of the book should have given me a clue. This guy has to be older than the Lin-Manuel I saw on a talk show. No. Luis A. Miranda Jr. is Lin-Manuel’s father.

There is a lot to learn from this man and his son. Their passions lead their lives. Music, acting, movies, and stage plays inspired the father. And they were transferred to the rest of the family. This is the part of the memoir I loved the most.

Learning about Puerto Rico and the differences in types of Hispanics cleared many questions I had over the years. And I learned a lot about different types of activism to help others. But here is where I started disconnecting. Was it me or the hours at night I was listening? Before long, I was lost in a sea of politics. Still, I found the enthusiasm Mr. Miranda Jr. displayed during these parts at least made me pay attention. Whether or not I agree didn’t matter. It was inspiring to feel his spirit.

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Review: The Guest List by Lucy Foley

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November 15, 2024

The Guest ListThe Guest List by Lucy Foley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With this cast: Jot Davies (Narrator), Chloe Massey (Narrator), Olivia Dowd (Narrator), Aoife McMahon (Narrator), Sarah Ovens (Narrator), Rich Keeble (Narrator), Lucy Foley’s story plays out like an old radio mystery theater.

I finished a book before I was ready to go to sleep. Since it was a Libby audiobook, I tried to find something else to get me to sleeping time. I saw this one about a wedding guest list. The blurb made it look interesting. I don’t much like murder mysteries, but with the setting in Ireland, I thought it would at least whet my travel desires. It worked!

All the actors gave such depth to the story that probably, in a paper book, it would still be great. The accents enriched each character. And what a single narrator-type book would do, I never felt lost as to who was talking.

There were so many types of people at this wedding. And life-like relationships that we learn about that happened and caused some incidences at the wedding that one doesn’t expect. We don’t start with a body and try to figure out who did it, but the other part of the mystery is who will die and why, then asking the who. This makes it the best mystery I have ever read/listened to.

This was readily available on Libby. If you get the chance, I think you’ll like it, too.

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Review: Tsarina Scholar Woodsman Thief by Cidney Swanson

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November 14, 2024

Tsarina Scholar Woodsman Thief (Five Kingdoms Book 1)Tsarina Scholar Woodsman Thief by Cidney Swanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Narrator Amanda Berry made this the most wonderful fairytale I’ve read in a long time. I already knew I’d love it as I am a big fan of Cidney Swanson. I was going to wait until the end of this review, but I love her Mars series so much that I want to read them all again. She also has a time travel/history series. She is such a great author, no matter the subject matter. (But Mars still wins in my books)

In this tale, you have a few young people trying to make it on their own. At first, they don’t know each other. We get to know them one at a time. Misfortune strikes each of them. This is not contemporary. Horses are the means of travel or sailing boats.

I listened to the Audible version and loved it after I immersed myself in the time and lands. And though this is not the end of the story, we are left in a safe place while we await the next book, coming soon. Please give it a try. I think you’ll love it, too. Oh, and while you wait, go check out Saving Mars and the whole series.

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Review: Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

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November 12, 2024

Mother-Daughter Murder NightMother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, I was reluctant to read a book. I don’t like books about murder. And that is the reason I usually don’t read mysteries. They are rarely about missing glasses. True mysteries. And I don’t know where I heard about this book, but thanks to whoever suggested this. It was a lot of fun!

Jane Oppenheimer, narrator, read this with such spirit that I didn’t want to put it down. She was about to change her voice for every character, and I was never lost as to who might be speaking.

The author was clever in shifting a book about the younger women (daughter and granddaughter), and soon, it is the grandmother who speaks the most in the book. Her viewpoint is a little annoying but fun.

Yes, there is a murder or more, but as a team, the three women risk their own lives, careers, and their relationships with each other. Tricky at first, but by the time it all falls apart, each woman searches for strength and wisdom.

Ah, I am not saying what I want to. Just know that this is a fun book, despite the murders and bad guys. I was lucky to pick it up on Libby. Enjoy!

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Review: Finding Baby Holly: Lost to a Cult, Surviving My Parents’ Murders, and Saved by Prayer by Holly Marie

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November 10, 2024

Finding Baby Holly: Lost to a Cult, Surviving My Parents' Murders, and Saved by PrayerFinding Baby Holly: Lost to a Cult, Surviving My Parents’ Murders, and Saved by Prayer by Holly Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was worried about reading this. I thought it would add to the stress of the day. But actually, I found it relaxing and positive. Thanks to Libby for making so many books available to the poor for free.

If you don’t mind a person expressing their religious points of view, this is a good book. But some might find it a bit heavy in the beliefs end of things. I always feel we see a unique person’s point of view in an autobiography. The best way to understand others is to start with their belief system.

The narrator, Stephanie Richardson, was easy to listen to and displayed humor and love throughout.

The end of the book is a bit of a cliffhanger. Since there is no answer to what happened to Holly’s parents, the ending that would be most satisfying would be someone out there who reads this and might get a spark of memory that they witnessed something they didn’t know might be a clue to solve the case.

So bear with or enjoy the book, but you may be the key to solving this mystery.

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