Tag Archive: Kindle



Chickens, Hawks and Grumpy Goats: Five Years on a FarmChickens, Hawks and Grumpy Goats: Five Years on a Farm by S.A. Molteni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you follow my reviews, you know that I am reading a lot about farming, gardening, and the like. Most of it is instructional. And so I went into this book thinking I’m reading some how-to book with personality. But into the second ‘chapter’ I realize I am reading an anthology of stories of farm life. Actually, I remember now, that in the first ‘chapter’ I was reading how this family was nearly dying of starvation and they were choosing which young one to not feed. I was horrified! At the end of that story, I figured out it was about chicken hawks and chickens. Not people. Whew! Then I realized I had liked that story after all.

But after a rather realistic story there is one that is about Chicken Little. I nearly stopped reading as it seemed too childish after what I had just read. But I gave it a chance and saw it was very cleverly written story of real life on a farm from the eyes of one of the chickens that had nearly died.

I don’t usually like short stories. As you may well know by now. But somehow, I got into this little book and enjoyed the author’s take on farm life. I picked up this book for free, but it is only $.99 right now. I think it is worth it if you want something different to read. I was so impressed that I went ahead and picked up a couple more stories by S.A. Moteni.

I did learn something. You can call yourself a farm hobbyist. That’s what I’m going to be! 🙂

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Keep Austin Weird: A Lesbian Superhero Love Story for Grown-UpsKeep Austin Weird: A Lesbian Superhero Love Story for Grown-Ups by Mary Jane
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Was this a waste of time? I don’t know. I liked being reminded of Boba Tea. I like that one of the main characters was able to see into other people’s future so they could become their best selves. But honestly I felt cheated for the most part. I felt the characters were rather flat. The relationships were weird. There was crying that seemed unnecessary. Come to find out, the author is not female. Mary Jane is a male writing about a lesbian couple. Sure he saved himself some remnant of grace in that he didn’t try to throw in deep emotional feelings or erotic entanglements. That is always a tell-tale sign of honesty. And he must be writing what he knows and loves with ‘super powers’ and the tea. But the book was just too hard to get into and truly enjoy.

Worst of all? It is all written in present-tense. Except in action-pack books, I find this trick to be disarming. It makes the story so unreal. Ugh!

But plenty of people love this book, so go for it. You may like it too!

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Farm Flop: A City Dweller's Guide to Failing on a Farm in Two Years Or LessFarm Flop: A City Dweller’s Guide to Failing on a Farm in Two Years Or Less by Devin Rose

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been reading a lot about farm life. Lots of how-tos. Most of them assume that your life will go right and will follow the recommended ways. Very few are honest and show you how it can go wrong. This one does. Mr. Devin Rose tells his tale and how he and his wife try to make it as farmers. Sadly their family was too young to make it work for them. But his cautionary tale could apply to old folks like my husband and I as we just want some small piece of land to retire onto. Surely if we don’t get too gung-ho we can make it. We don’t plan on cows or horses. Maybe a goat or some chickens. Maybe only a dog. Maybe not even that. Our health and needs will lead us.

I must admit that Mr. Rose told a good story. With all the fails, it still didn’t sound too apologetic. I felt sorry for him, but not in a way that made his attempts hopeless. He tells his story with a sense of humor and gives us the life lessons he learned along the way. Failures are merely tries that didn’t right themselves.

I think the most off-putting of the story was the Catholic bent. But the story wasn’t preachy. He just shared that is was part of the philosophy he and his family tries to live to. Most of the book was dedicated to his family attempting to live life on a small farm.

I picked this up for free on OHFB (One Hundred Free Books.com) but I think it is well worth the $2.99 asking price now. I wish the author luck in the next part of his adventures. And I hope his health is better now.

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Alpha Knows Best (Wicked Good Witches #2)Alpha Knows Best by Starla Silver

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this on the heels of the first book of the series. These are more story-driven rather than by humor. Still with vampires and werebeings not being my favorite types of characters, there are enough witchness to make me happy to continue reading.

As with the first book, this is a quick read that is meant for adults as the situations are sexier than a lot of stories out there. But sex is not what leads the story, it just happens and isn’t too in your face. If you like vampires and werewolves this is your kind of series.

The price is right, this book and its prequel and sequel are free. After book three there is a fee involved. Normally that wouldn’t upset me. An author does need to get paid. But my budget is about as strained as it can get with a move imminent in my life. But I will try to finish the series once the money settles down.

So far, both of the books in this series are quick reads. took about an hour or so each. So if your looking for something lighter this is for you. It’s just not of a comedic nature. That’s okay. There’s enough to the story to keep you going.

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Serious Leigh (Literal Leigh Romance Diaries, #2)Serious Leigh by Melanie James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is such a fun series! I barely finished reading book one that I grabbed the next one and started reading. There are many laugh-out-loud moments with this witch in training. Leigh, her cursed writing desk and her very familiar, marvelous cat, Luna, find ways to have adventures no one had thought would happen in the life of an author. Writing after all is a lonely, boring life. Right? Not for this newbie witch.

These are quick reads but don’t feel like short stories. They are layered with full characters and a world that melds the real, current world with a few fantasy yet historic realms thrown in. Each book is based on the last but has its own personality.

I picked up the first book and this book for free. Now I have to find a few pennies ($2.99) to get the next book, so it may take a while before I get to read the rest of the series. But I will after the move is completed and I am bored–probably in the coming winter. That will add some light to my frozen life ahead.

Please give these a try. You might like them, too.

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To Catch Her Death (Grim Reality, #1)To Catch Her Death by Boone Brux

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

That was fun! If you like dark humor like the show, ‘Dead Like Me’, this may be up your alley. It is a quick read but not so quick that you feel cheated. I loved the main character, Lisa Carron, widow, mother of teens, and now, whether she wants it or not, Grim Reaper. Be aware, this is funny. I laughed out loud a couple times even though it was time to be quiet and get ready to sleep.

This book made me want to read book two, but I just can’t afford it yet. (Trying to save money for the move coming up.) But when I can I look forward to reading more about this wonderful reaper of death and her family.

By the way, I read this using the British female text-to-speech on 2x speed. Maybe that means nothing to you, but to me the TTS is very important to my reading experience and I think it plays well this story.

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Lesbian Crushes and Bulimia: A Diary on How I Acquired my Eating DisorderLesbian Crushes and Bulimia: A Diary on How I Acquired my Eating Disorder by Natasha Holme

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn’t want to give this book five stars. Most of that is fear. I am afraid that young people might try to emulate this author’s eating disorder. The rest of this diary was an interesting read. I envy the younger generation and they way they are freer to try out their wings, sexual or otherwise. It is interesting watching how this student learns who she is and who she is more comfortable loving. I love how she is open with her partners to be about how it is more of an experiment to her than an emotional attachment. I like that she chooses to be protected in her quest to find herself. But when she gets hung up in her self-image and eating or not to be the size she thinks she ought to be, whoa, what a train-wreck.

So my five stars comes with a warning: please stay healthy and don’t get hung up in how you should look to others. Stay strong, eat healthily. Accept yourself.

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The Discreet Lesbian: (Episode 1 in the Mandy Series)The Discreet Lesbian: by Mackenzie Stone

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I hate short stories! There is never enough time to get to know the characters and get involved in the story. What do I hate more than short stories? Episodes! To me, this is a way to wring more money out of an already poorer set of customers. And though many young women need this kind of book during their time of coming to terms with themselves, these seem to be the books that wring the most out of the purse. Very sad.

The three stars I gave this book are for the ways I felt I could relate to the main character of the book. The author described the life and times and development of Mandy in ways that would help those who are struggling to come out. And though this book is free the rest are $2.99 each. There just isn’t enough meat/story here to put out more money. Sorry. If this had been longer, I might not mind. I might have given five stars. But with it so short… meh.

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RedactionRedaction by Linda Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! What a movie! No. It wasn’t a movie. It really was the Kindle version of a book that has text-to-speech. But it was easily as good as any other disaster movie on SyFy. It was written from several people’s points of view. We even get inside the evil, bad guy’s head. Yuck! Yuck! But it made it a better read, I think, by being able to see what these people are going through in their end days. post a horrid disease in which most of the population has died. These are the leftovers. But their survival looks questionable.

I loved most of the characters. I loved how these people inhabited their world and dealt with the cards dealt them. I think that is what makes a good disaster book or movie. Show us how we can be good in the face of the bad. Show us how to turn our thoughts around to make sure we are caring people in crises. What else matters in the end but how you treat your fellow beings on the planet?

I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. By the way, with the Fire, I have my text-to-speech set to British female. That makes everything sound like Julie Andrews is reading to me. It makes nearly every book better!

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Homesteading Handbook vol. 2: Growing an Organic Vegetable Garden (Homesteading Handbooks)Homesteading Handbook vol. 2: Growing an Organic Vegetable Garden by Michelle Grande

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book by Michelle Grande that I picked up for free and am very grateful to have it. As I have said before I will be moving onto a property that will have enough land for a garden soon so I am gathering information while I can. Sure, I won’t be able to work on the garden until next Spring, still I think it wise to read as much as I can so I can be ready to start said garden. This book and the previous volume will be on my ‘reference shelf’ to gather whatever information I might need. The book is thorough addressing most vegetables/herbs a person might want to grow and each of the needs. It also addresses pests and ways to keep the garden organic. In fact, the second half of this book is individualized per veggie. That will make referring back easier when it is time. I didn’t read this last part as it is detailed with information I don’t need right now. But I will read it in the future.

I was lucky enough to pick this one up for free. It is still free on Kindle Unlimited but is well worth the $2.99. I look forward to putting these books to the test next year.

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