Tag Archive: lending-enabled



Horses: Amazing Pictures and Fun Horse Facts for Kids (and Parents)Horses: Amazing Pictures and Fun Horse Facts for Kids by Susan Palmer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Because I am writing about equines in my nano novel (NaNoWriMo.org). I needed a little inspiration. This book was free so I thought I’d take a chance.

There were not as many pictures as I really wanted. But there was one at the beginning of each chapter. This seems to be a book for the third to sixth grader who is interested in learning about horses. Though I am not equestrian scholar, far from it, I didn’t expect to learn anything. But I did! So I would say that even though it’s aimed at third to sixth graders, I think anybody could read this and learn something. And if you beating on Kindle Fire or on a tablet the pictures are beautiful. And it gave me the inspiration I needed.

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Molly: House on FireMolly: House on Fire by R.E. Bradshaw

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love, love, love Decky books. Decky is the nickname of the author, R.E. Bradshaw. I have read many of her stories. Her writing is enjoyable. She brings the reader into her worlds. We sit in on all the adventures. I hope someday her stories will become movies or television series. They are worth it!

What was most exciting about Molly: House on Fire? Characters from Ms. Bradshaw’s previous novels appeared and are there to help out in this thriller. I love when authors do that.

The mystery kept me guessing. I did figure out who but I couldn’t figure out the how or why as I read. The ending was a bit of a surprise. AND it feels like more could be written on Molly and her life. Yay!

This was such and exciting tale that I had to move a couple books from my “to read” to my “currently reading” shelf. Great job, Decky!

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Out on the Panhandle (The Adventures of Decky and Charlie, #2)Out on the Panhandle by R.E. Bradshaw

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the Decky and Charlie stories. This couple has such a nice relationship. I love how the real Decky (R.E. Bradshaw) creates believable characters and stories. And the way the author presents family life. In these stories, Decky’s mom is bipolar. This is portrayed well as Decky tries to live an uncomplicated life with her new love.

In this book, Decky researches the history of Charlie’s family ranch. It is an education for all who read about the Comanche tribe and the troubles they had with the white invaders. I was glad I was reading this on Columbus Day. It made me feel I was celebrating the Native Ameican Day as it should be called.

Okay, I have to admit, though, I wasn’t completely thrilled with the book. The first part felt forced. The dialogue didn’t ring true, or something. Not sure I can pin it down. But after the story got off the ground, I was hooked. It wasn’t quite the thriller the last book was but it still had its share of adventure and action. Meanwhile, I learned a lot about the Comanche tribe and the Panhandle of Oklahoma.

Oh, and did I mention–horses? Yep. There are horses. That made me very happy. (My twelve-year-old self was galloping along with the characters.

I am looking forward to reading more by R.E. Bradshaw.

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Secrets (The Steamship Chronicles Book 1)Secrets by Margaret McGaffey Fisk

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I feel I can claim I am friends with the author, Margaret McGaffey Fisk. She has been an important member of the writing group I belong to. I don’t think that comes into play in this review, first of all because I fell deeply into the world she created, and second because I was saddened to find myself back in reality when I finished this adventure.

Safe Haven began this adventure for me. It precludes the series The Steaamship Chronicles of which this, Secrets, is book 1. I had already fallen in love with the characters, Lily and Samantha. To research the burbs and other reviews please check out Amazon and GoodReads.

Meanwhile, my review. Although this started sadly and then got exciting, it leaves me in the heads of Sam and the boy, Nat. I would guess this is the set up for much more fun ahead.

I wish Samantha was set free to do what she does best, but, again, that will happen, I’m sure, in the next books. There seemed to be times where I tended to put the book aside and attend to other shining things. I don’t remember having that problem in Safe Haven. Maybe it is all my own problems and not that of the author. Maybe I am not in the demographic the book is for. I do know I would have had fun reading this to my children, or had them read it to me way back when.

It is: A great bedtime story, a great for Young Adults as Sam learns to fit in her world. And fun for this old lady!

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Confessions of a Pagan NunConfessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I finished this book a couple days ago. I wish I didn’t have to write a review for it. Mostly because I can’t figure out what to say.

What I hope to find was an education about the Pagan ways in a gentle fictional story. Instead there was plenty to tell about the cruelty of the ‘onward christian soldiers’. But the book seemed to tell more about the cruelty and less about the goodness of either religion. Even the awe of nature and all her wonders was minimal.

Emotions seemed to rule the book: guilt, depression and unrequited love.

The feelings that I am left with are the cold and muddiness, disease and death.

Many have left much more eloquent reviews for this book. I leave only the shivering grittiness I feel when thinking of this story.

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Coming to RosemontComing 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.

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Divine InterventionDivine 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?

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The Sound of Crickets
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?

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Bermuda Triangle
Bermuda Triangle by Susan Cartwright
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My author friend, Susan Cartwright gave this story to me a while back to see what I thought. For some odd reason I didn’t do a review. Maybe there wasn’t a place here on GoodReads at the time? I don’t know. I just saw it listed on my Shelfari. Yeah, I keep forgetting that site is there. So I thought I would try to make sure this review happened.

Okay, the writing was great. The overall story was interesting. My own biases get invovled here. I found it too man-heavy. I am not into military life and jargon, though the author did a wonderful job in her research. This is where my navy husband was able to verify that research.

I did like the ending, it felt rather like Twilight Zone or X-Files. You do not guess how it will end.

Oh, my other bias is short stories. I am not only a novel reader, I prefer LONG series. I love getting to know the characters in depth and learning about their worlds. So, unfortunately, this made me uncomfortable in telling my friend how I felt. Still, after all this time I remember the story, so I am going to raise my rate from three stars to four. 🙂

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Review: Shafter


Shafter Shafter by Margaret McGaffey Fisk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Twelve year old Darlene would have LOVED this book. Yet at 64 I love it even deeper. As a kid, reading about Trina’s adventures on her home world while dreaming of space travel would have captured my heart, as that was my dream. As an older adult, I can see the fuller picture that includes the choices Trina and her sister, Katie, must make as they grow to become adults.

 

Feminism embraces these choices. The old world explorers knew some of these choices. Stay with the family you know or explore. Meeting new people and finding yourself in new family happens, our population wouldn’t be so large if that wasn’t the case. But then which dream to do you follow? Do you stay or do you go? Can you live without your loved ones? Would they want you to? All these questions are addressed within a tight, well-written story I didn’t want to leave.

 

You know those tales you leave with sadness, that make you read slower to savor your time with the characters but the plot won’t let you? Yeah, that’s what happened to me with this book. I am so glad to know Margaret McGaffey-Fisk! Maybe I can put peer pressure on her to make this a series? What an excellent read!

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