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Priest of Skulls (Tarot Witches: The Raven Knights Saga #2)Priest of Skulls by S.M. Reine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m always excited to read another of Sara Reines ARCs. I must admit that I am happier reading about the old characters, like visiting with old friends. But I’m sure I am mostly alone in that. I think others prefer to have something new and exciting to read. Well, this one is for you.

That is not to say I didn’t enjoy this and the first book in this offshoot series. Ms. Reine was able to bring up some delicate and scary subjects in a fantasy setting and make some important points. If you get the chance to read this one please take the time to read the notes at the beginning of the book. There are warnings of what you will find inside. There are uncomfortable situations, even triggers if you will for folks that have had sex forced on them, rape. But it is worth the read for the empowerment given.

On an aside, there are, also, some very different forms of erotica that are — fun to read. Not what we’ve expected from SM Reine. But so different that, well, you know how the fae are! I can’t wait to read the next one!

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Sunday Smile


This is what I woke up to this morning. Melted my heart! She is so cute!


Well, how shall I frame this? Though this prompt by Linda G. Hill is meant to bring about some creative writing, I find myself lost in a different kind of yarn. The knitting is done on a round frame with pegs all around. Actually, a KB loom. It made a hat slightly smaller than what would be comfortable for me. I’m passing it on to the Hat Huggers. I think it would be a nice soft hat for a chemo patient. I know I have nearly drooled at the softness of the Bernat yarn. So I think I will make myself a hat for this winter with the bigger KB loom. Here’s the finished product:

The pictures seem drained of color. Picture a cantaloupe for that pinkish part. Next to the face is a rind green. The yellow is brighter, too. At least the softness shows up.

Today we discovered Shadow Hunters on Hulu. That has kept me busy all day, knitting and watching. It’s a fun show similar in nature to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Not much gore. Just characters growing into their places. I think others might like it.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll list some of my latest binges and see what others think of them. Hope everyone had a nice Saturday/weekend.


I had hoped to be finished with these two project by today. Oh, well. I love the soft yarn, Bernard Pipsqueak. I’m making a small adult hat. The other is a slipper sock of Sugar and Cream cotton purple for cuff and for the rest of the sock a combination of blues and purples. Ah, well, maybe next week I will be finished with these.


Children's book: The Recycling Party: A happy book that turns cycling into a celebrationChildren’s book: The Recycling Party: A happy book that turns cycling into a celebration by Anat Gonen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Safety issues aside. This could be a good book to start talking about recycling. Regardless that the text speaks of a yellow bottle that isn’t in the accompanying picture. Imagination and fantastic artwork make this book worthwhile. It felt like collage-work with paints.

Children don’t play with Tim cans without an adult and talks of keeping safe. Kids can’t ride a Coke bottle like a train. But let’s talk about glass and dangers. I would have rather not had text as it wasn’t needed and often confused the pictorial story.

There were suggestions teachers and parents could use to help the students learn ways to recycle nearly everything. Recycling can become an exciting way of life.

Though I found the text inconvenient, this book is worth it for the artwork and ideas that one can glean with proper adult supervision.

By the way, I was gifted this book for an honest review.

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The Walking Dead: The Best Defense (The Walking Dead, #5)The Walking Dead: The Best Defense by Robert Kirkman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Most of the time I like a book far more than a show. But in this case… Without giving spoilers may I say this is far more gruesome and I’m not talking about the zombies. They are equally yucky.

The governor is far worse. There, I’ve said it.

And I fear the author was a young nerd at the time and not aware that women were made for more than rape and abuse. I’m glad the show writers took more time and found other things to do with this particular part of the story. Maybe the author has learned that half his audience would like him better for taking a slightly different point of view.

Another point for comics on Kindle! It is far better to be able to close in on the artwork or the fonts that I wouldn’t be able to read in the paper copy. This is how I will read the rest of the series as I can with Kindle Unlimited.

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Children's book: The Unruly Orchestra: Learn about musical instruments and the symphonic orchestraChildren’s book: The Unruly Orchestra: Learn about musical instruments and the symphonic orchestra by Daphna Lustiger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I voluntarily read to review this book.

Almost. That is the best thing I can say. I was excited, as a former music major, to see a picture book about the orchestra. But on the first page, I got disappointed. Two of the instruments named were not shown.

The text wasn’t rhythmic or as fun as it could be. And I think it still needs a good editor.

The pictures were fun and I wanted the story to be as fun.

Still, I would have read it to my children. I think I could have made it more fun with sounds of the instruments lined up to actually introduce each part. It could be a fun story, if cleaned up a bit, to a field trip to a concert or an educational segment about Peter and the Wolf, and possibly pulling out triangles and fun band percussion instruments. and a good old march around the classroom.

My deepest disappointment was the piano not named as it was being called a pipe organ (not usually in an orchestra, and no pipes).

Still, the book could have hope with a bit more clean up.

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The Storied Life of A.J. FikryThe Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Um. Yeah. What if Data wrote a book? The emotions and exciting adventure are missing. Lots of telling that seem to lead nowhere.

But if you love books and bookstores, you are hooked without mercy. You don’t want to quit because there has to be a reason for all the quotes and little notes that start each chapter.

I didn’t care for A.J. Fikry. The author doesn’t paint him in any kind of good light. The other characters around him are equally yawn-producing. But BOOKS and a BOOKSTORE! Keeps the engine running, the reader reading. Weirdly, at the end I found tears flowing. How did the author do that? I even found myself wondering how the next book would look. I wanted more of the characters. (trying not to spoil here.)

A friend recommended the book. I’m glad she did. I recommend this for readers who love books. I will look into other books by this author. I may reread this to see if I can figure out how the author wrote this intriguing book in the dryest of fashions, throwing ‘show-not-tell’ and other rules of writing out the window.

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Shoulder Surgery


Tonight at midnight my husband will get up and get prepared for the trip to the hospital. My brother will be driving around 2:30 AM for an hour and a half to the hospital. The surgery is scheduled for 5ish. There was no way I could do the drive that early. Why did they have to schedule out of towners at that hour?

So Tuesday is my drive day. When he gets out of surgery and had time to recover I will dive up to get him and bring him home. I so wish for the days my body would let me be awake at any time and drive to anywhere at any time. I feel bad about not being by his side. We will be face-timing as soon as he can talk. Thank goodness for modern technology!

I will try to keep you all apprised of the situation. And I have a review to post tomorrow so I won’t be gone from the blogosphere for long.


Outlander (Outlander, #1)Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It has been several days since I finished book one. I still feel caught in the afterglow of it.. While I was reading it I binge-watched the show. First with my son and brother. Then with my friend. Then with my husband. So this review includes the book, the audible version and the show.

I borrowed the book from the local e-library. I noticed it came with text-to-speech. But the show was full of Garlic so I didn’t want to hear the TTS mispronouncing those words. So I used my credit to pick up the Audible version to whisper synch.

Narrated by: Davina Porter, made the story come alive. Her voice isn’t like the actor of the show which was a bit of a surprise but Davina did a great job acting the different characters of the book.

I have to admit that I will more often suggest the book over the show. The explicit rape scenes may trigger those who watch the show. The book leaves more to the imagination. It spent more time on the story itself than details of the acts.

My only complaint of the book was that it was so long I didn’t finish before it was due back. Who knew that the email that says a book is due on Monday that you don’t have most of Monday to finish? They took the book back Sunday night at midnight. I was forced to buy the book with only 10% left to read. Oh, well, now I can share it with my husband and read it again someday.

With the trigger warning for the show, I highly recommend the book, audio, and show for everyone. Those days spent back in history, especially in Scotland were dreamy! Wish I could actually go and experience the whole UK.

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