Category: Reviews



Constricted (Flawed #1.1)Constricted by Becca J. Campbell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclosure: I was given this ARC for an honest review.

And that is where this gets weird. If I hadn’t volunteered to read this, I wouldn’t have finished reading or given the book two and a half to three stars. But that is my own fault. I can’t remember much about this character from the other books in the series. You would think I would remember more as he has the name of my son. But… I never could recall this character’s back story.

On the other hand, the writing was great for an ARC. I can’t say I found any mistakes. That says a lot. So many e-books go out without editing, at least that is how they feel. What also brings this story up in my rating is that I did enjoy getting to know Logan in this book. He is a flawed, real person, who tries to do his best. Who couldn’t like that?

It doesn’t fit my goal of reading books of strong fem written by strong fem authors, but the other parts of this series do fit right in, so getting to know one of the non-stars helps. I think I may have to go back and reread the series to put it all into perspective.

Sorry, Becca J. Campbell. it’s on me. You wrote quite well. I have a memory like a sieve lately. I’m sure if I remembered I would be giving it five stars. Gulp. Sorry.

View all my reviews


Perilous: A Ripple Novel (The Ripple Series Book 7)Perilous: A Ripple Novel by Cidney Swanson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Aw, shucks! The series is done. This was a well-rounded ending. Lots of anxiety and worry for the characters and how they would get through. Yet all threads are securely tied down. I do have a question, but rather than giving a spoiler, I will write the author.

Cidney Swanson is now one of my favorite authors. Her writing is so well done. She managed several plot lines and keeps the reader interested in all the characters, even those who are not so likable. She builds a world you can see and feel as the characters run or, um, kiss. You can feel the weather, humid or not, cold or hot. You can taste the cookies!

I am glad that this final book takes us back to Sam (Samantha) and her goals and problems and sees her through some of her own challenges. But it was nice to be able to get inside the heads of her friends and enemy. Ms. Swanson keeps the points of view separated and personal for each.

This is a great series for anyone, young adult and up. As a 65-year-old, I could still relate with all of it. In fact, the author includes people of other ages within the story, parents, step-parents, the ancient rippler who has learned to stay alive longer than anyone ever has. Most young adult books have the young people without older adults. Cidney manages to keep the story strong with all these people included.

Okay, I can’t let this go by without a nod to my favorite of these two series that Cidney Swanson has developed, Saving Mars. Yes, I love the Rippler series, but Saving Mars is my all time favorite sci-fi of all time. Again, it is for the young adult and older. I highly recommend both series.

I can’t wait to see what Ms. Swanson comes up with next!

View all my reviews


Knavery (Ripple #6)Knavery by Cidney Swanson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After being given book 7, the final book in the Ripple series, free for review, I realized I hadn’t read book 6 yet. So, in spite of lack o’ funds, I picked it up as I didn’t want to read yet another book series out of order. This series does build on the book before. And, who knows? I may want to read this series again. Best to own it!

I do love this author, Cidney Swanson, and how she writes. Of course, my favorite of her two series, is Saving Mars. How I wish there were more of these. I understand that it came to a satisfying end, but how many books are out there written by women about space travel that isn’t center on wars or male characters?

Now back to the Ripple series.

Science + trauma = rippling. Rippling is invisibility. At the beginning of the series, we know of just one person who can do this. Sam/Samantha. But now there is a nice little community. But someone we didn’t know before becomes the star of this book. His hero is Loki. What would Loki do? He is an emotionally stunted guy raised on a fat-campgrounds. (By the way, there are no judgments of the overweight teens that are there in this book.) His invisibility has been something he used for tricks on campers and family. He is a sweet guy, but hasn’t been kissed or had relationships with anyone but his family. He’s decided to get a job far from family to see if he can become his own person. I like Skandor Dusselhoff. Yes, it is a stray away from my goal of reading books written by and starring females. But since most of the rest of the series qualifies, this works. Exceptions prove the rule, you know!

I didn’t mean to finish reading it in the wee hours of the morning, but it grabbed me and wouldn’t let me put it away. Then I wanted to start the next book because I couldn’t sleep, still, at 5 AM. But I got tough with myself and turned everything off and tried to sleep. And, okay, it could have been the extra caffeine while hanging out with my daughter having a wonderful day, and not the book. But do you want to take the chance that a book THAT exciting goes unread by you?

Now on to the final book of the series…

View all my reviews


Lamia's FistsLamia’s Fists by D. Omars

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a very unusual book. Let me start with the good. This book starred a strong lesbian boxer. In spite of everything else, I liked her and her boxing friends, and the romantic interest. I cared about how it was going to end. I stayed with this book no matter the errors, just to make sure there was a decent ending. Though, I didn’t think it an actual ending. No strings of the tale were left undone. I wondered if there was to be a part two.

Another thing that was fun was the werebeings or other fantasy types. In this case, the main character is a lamia. I never knew what a lamia was before this book.

Sorry, the rest isn’t as nice. This book was a VERY long book. It is especially long because of the confusion of present tense and past tense. Neither of these were used consistently. Had it been that present tense was used during the fights, it might have been like listening to the sports commentator during a bout in the ring. But even there it got old and was interrupted with past-tense of thoughts of everyone in the arena, it seemed. And about those matches, GODS! That got old fast. Unless you like boxing, or understand it, this part will be as boring for you as it was for me.

There were words used that were in wrong places, such as ‘been’ being used where the word ‘being’ should have been. It felt like the author wasn’t a natural English speaker, that maybe he had another language as his prime. Now I can’t be a judge of that as I can’t write anything in another language, so he’s got to be smarter than me. I struggle with this first language of mine. Still, a good editor, or another set of eyes before going public would have been good.

Last… I noticed that the relationships were weird. A lot of blushing and very little women-moving-in-with their mates. Things like that made me wonder who was writing this. I only found out today that the author is male. That made it clear as to the whys.

Now if I haven’t discouraged you, I want you to know that this book is free on Amazon. Maybe it is a better edited read. If not I found that if you have text-to-speech on fast it helps get past the boring or difficult parts but maintains the storyline.

View all my reviews


Zentangle: The Ultimate Guide to Understand and Create Amazing Patterns and Shapes (Zentagle For Beginners, Zentangle Books, Zentangle Patterns, Zentangle ... rts and Crafts, Creativity, Graphic Design)Zentangle: The Ultimate Guide to Understand and Create Amazing Patterns and Shapes by David Adams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another Zentangle book on Kindle. I am so happy that there are so many now. This one is free on Kindle Unlimited and only $2.99 otherwise. Maybe for a beginner it would be worth the price but I have been researching and learning this wonderful art for a little while. I only picked it up for inspiration. And it was free then.

There are not only lovely Zentangles illustrated within the ebook, there were web links to others online. Now I have more boards to follow on my Pinterest! But that’s what that site is for, right?

One new concept that was brought up in this book that I haven’t seen (or noticed) before was how doing Zentangles can be a good habit exchange for a bad habit, such as over-eating or smoking. Great idea!

If you get the chance, look this book up. It is a great introduction to the art of Zentangling.

View all my reviews


The Charlton Affair: A romantic crime novelThe Charlton Affair: A romantic crime novel by MJ Doherty

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was MJ Doherty’s first book? AMAZING! I loved this book! It pulled me in from the first erotic dreams of the beginning on into the crimes and drama and suspense that continued to the end of the book.

Ms. Doherty built believable characters, so much so that I didn’t want to leave them behind. I do hope there will be a sequel!

There is romance and love and relationships to live through and figure out. That is the lower drama. But the stuff that keeps a person turning pages is how to come out of this story alive. Gripping tale! What I found most interesting is how often the point of view changes. It isn’t just the main characters, but some of the lesser characters can be part of the story telling. Well done! And it is done in such a way that the reader doesn’t get lost trying to figure whose head she is in now.

I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you, Kindle Unlimited for letting me read it for free! I think I will buy it soon as it is that good a read!

View all my reviews


Thinking in Pictures: My Life with AutismThinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am so grateful that I finally got around to reading this book. It was eye-opening to be able to see inside the mind of Temple Grandin. It was interesting to learn more about autism and how it affects those who think in that way. With the differences, I was very surprised with how much I felt in common with the author. Oh, I’m not nearly as intelligent as Ms, Grandin, but her sensitivities to touch, and sound and crowds, her visual thinking, well, I saw my own ways of dealing with the same. I almost wanted to see if I would find a hug-machine for myself. But I do enjoy hugs from family and friends. I will find myself having anxiety attacks in a crowd or with too much noise. Even the sound of the fan or the refrigerator will drive me nuts.

Mercy. That was what I felt from Ms. Grandin. I love how much care she gives to the animals doomed to be slaughtered. Outside of wishing everyone could be vegetarians, the next best thing is that we learn to treat our fellow beings on this Earth with humane care.

This copy was the paperback and the print was very hard for me to read. But since it was a BookCrossing copy I wanted to be able to pass it on to others. This is BCID 395-7719867. I will send it on to others in our group.

View all my reviews


Exiled: Memoirs of a CamelExiled: Memoirs of a Camel by Kathleen Karr

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wish I had the hardbound book. I am glad that I was able to get the Kindle Unlimited version.

This is a fun little story based on true events between the gold rush and civil war. Camels were brought to America to aid in travel in the western deserts. This is from a fictional camel’s point of view. Being from the land of the pyramids, Ali prays to Allah as is the custom from where he comes from.

Author, Kathleen Karr, wrote lovable characters. At times, there is a stretch of unbelievability, such as how the camels can understand both the language of their birth and then the English here in America. But if one takes a moment to think of how our pets seem to understand us and seem to know, regardless of language, what we want from them. Whether they mind us or not shows they have free-will like we humans do. So when the camels decide not to do what they are told it is because they don’t want to. I found that humorous.

This is a great book to use as teachable moments. From our own history, and the real camel importing, Comanches, geography from Egypt across the sea to Texas and on to California. Comparative religions and the similarities between peoples. And, of course, spend time learning about CAMELS. I have read a few books about camels lately and I am falling in love with them!

This is a great book for children of any age, even 65-year-olds! 😉

View all my reviews


Hello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra StreisandHello, Gorgeous: Becoming Barbra Streisand by William J. Mann

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was not my favorite biography of Barbra Streisand, but I couldn’t stop reading all the same. It was different than others I have read in that it helped me see more of her time between being a new singer and the finish of Funny Girl. Being the fangirl I am for Babs, I can never get enough of her. She still mystifies us all with her abilities and talents. Thank you, William J. Mann for delving into this unique life for the rest of us.

I picked this up for free from Kindle Unlimited. It is still KU free. It is only $2.99 for those who can afford it.

View all my reviews


The Life you Leave BehindThe Life you Leave Behind by Coedee Shaner Burba

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I picked up this book through Bookkus.com free for review. I just learned about Bookkus and am still finding my way around, but there seems to be quite a few authors willing to let their books go out there for review.

Given the above, I read bearing the imminent review in mind. I found this a very hard book to read. There is a lot of angst. The main character spends her time mooning over a married man while whipping herself with her Catholic guilt, she seems to sing “I’m just a girl who can’t say no…” As a reader, it is plain that she is walking into trouble. Even so, we are brought along on this angsty ride. I read to escape depression. This book drew me into darkness. As often as I thought, I should just move on to another book, I kept reading. It was like the train-wreck you can’t keep your eyes off of. There were redeeming qualities to the main character that kept me reading. I wasn’t sure how it would end. It didn’t seem like there could be a good ending. Yet I stayed with it.

Now that I am finished reading the book, and trying not to give away spoilers, I can say I was taught something. Maybe that was something the author was trying to teach through this story? I was shown my own judgemental feeling toward Faye. And I learned her strength of character she learned along the way through making her own mistakes of love. If you can deal with the angst of a YA romance there might be something here for you, too. Thank you for letting me read your book, Coedee Shaner Burba.

View all my reviews

THE AVOERIA ARCHIVE

The Depth Behind The Ordinary

Life of Chaz

Books, games, music, and life — filtered through the mind of a writer, drummer, and philosopher who thinks too deeply about all of it. If it moves something in your chest, I'm interested.

Pieces Of My Heart

"Words & Wonders - Where thoughts meet art

💫The Afterlove Voice💫

Justice, Channeling,Spiritual,Astrology,Truth- Seeker.

Amin Academy

Education, Information, Motivation

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

Creative

Travel,Tourism, Life style "Now in hundreds of languages for you."

intricate cantrips

twisted yarns, unraveled

Introverted Growth

The Introvert's Roadmap to Self Discovery and Growth

Histopedia

story telling from history