Tag Archive: text-to-speech-enabled



Beautiful Black Cats: A collection of photographs of black catsBeautiful Black Cats: A collection of photographs of black cats by Precious The Cat

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

AS an animal lover I love looking at picture books about different animals. As a black cat owner I LOVE pictures of cats like mine. Since my black cat was a rescue kitty, we didn’t get to see her as a kitten, so some of these pictures could easily be what she looked like when she was tiny.

The book leaves me smiling. But I think it might have been better to not have the credits right under the picture but tuck it away in the back so that the photos can stand alone. It was the only thing I didn’t like about the book.

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The Horse Book (HC Picture Books 13)The Horse Book by Ben Holden-Crowther

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since my NaNoWriMo is/was about equine people I wanted just pictures for visual inspiration. This book filled the bill perfectly. I might have wanted more, especially of ponies. But these are marvelous photos of horses and landscapes.

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Immutable (Ripple Series Book 5)Immutable by Cidney Swanson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again, I am sad. I am nearing the end of a great series. It has been so much fun to read the Rippler series by Cidney Swanson. You may remember her name from the Mars series I went so crazy about.

The Rippler series isn’t space travel but I consider it to be sci-fi rather than fantasy as the condition that causes one to ripple into invisibility is caused by a certain gene, as I understand it. Scientists discover these genes and work with a multitude of medications to control the side effects and or the people that are able to vanish. As in all groups of people there are good scientists and bad/evil scientists. The results push the main characters and plot of this series.

What I don’t yet do like about this series is that even though you have the oldies but goodies from former books, each book or so introduces a new point of view. The reason I like it is because you can travel to new places and see things you might not have had Ms. Swanson kept the same main character for all the adventures. I like getting to know characters in their depth so that is why I don’t like a new character every time. I know, I’m hard to please. 🙂

At any rate, what I am left with is a case of wonderment. What if one could go invisible, hide in walls or in plain sight? What if one could read another’s thoughts? And how fun would it be to hitch a ride in an airplane anywhere in the world by hiding in the wall? And not only can you be invisible, but you can fly! Or you can take a dip in the ocean with a school of dolphins and not get wet or cold. These are just a few adventures the main characters have in this series.

I’d say try either the Rippler series or the Saving Mars series if you want to have some fun.

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Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy, #2)Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a bit of research I realized that I read the first book, A Discovery of Witches, in 2011. That reading was a result of a recommendation by my cousin. I loved that book. Yet, I just took the quiz and found I only got 3 questions right out of 10. So maybe I should have read it again before reading this second book, Shadow of Night. I did feel lost at times, but the story kept me engaged and I didn’t want to leave the past to review the first book. Also, on my research I found that I didn’t have the Kindle version of the first book. I must have borrowed the hardback from the library. But I do have the Audible version of the book that I had listened to alongside the hardback.

With both books of the series, I was delighted by the narrator, Jennifer Ikeda. Her voice is exquisite, I love the way she can vary according to each character. I feel she could read the phonebook and make it exciting. But Deborah Harkness’s writing needs no help. Several times I’d have a sleepless night and want to read. I hated donning my headset just for a few minutes of reading. Those few moments lasted for sometimes hours. So yes, I know how well the writing is. With the duo of writer and narrator this story comes to life. And that is when Elizabeth I is queen.

I love time travel stories, but this was different in that it was due to witchcraft that made it happened. And that by a witch who doesn’t understand her craft. Okay, I won’t tell you any more about the story. Needless to say, it is worth the read. The characters alone can grab you. They are well developed, as is the plot. So much so that I couldn’t wait to get the next book and get involved. I highly recommend this series.

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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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JUST ANOTHER CASUALTYJUST ANOTHER CASUALTY by Brooke Brouillette

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whew! It has taken me two days to get into a mind frame where I can write about this book. I couldn’t read it at night because of the subject matter. Kidnapping happens. This was realistic. The story was so strong that I didn’t notice any typos or grammar errors. It was all about keeping the main character alive and whole. And Brooke Brouillette, the author, made the character, Savvy, very realistic and likable.

As a parent, this story played on all my strings. One would hope your child would know how to react and stay safe. But that helpless feeling a parent has while trying to find your child, no matter how old they are, just terrifying! The reason I gave this 4 stars is only that the author wrote such a believable novel. I wouldn’t have read this book if I had known its subject matter. Just not my kind of book. There is enough of this on the news. I read for escape. So 4 stars is quite high considering.

By the way, this edition was given to me for an honest review. There you have it. If you like scary and thrillers–this is it. Thank you Ms. Brouillette for allowing me this read.

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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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KinflicksKinflicks by Lisa Alther

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was recommended by a GoodReads group I belong to.

Once, again, I finished a book when I wasn’t able to write the review. Now in the midst of the current read, I have to remember the feelings of the previous literary adventure.

Let’s work backward. I felt the ending left much to be desired. Even though this is a hefty novel, I wanted to know what happened next. Is it possible there is a part two out there?

Okay, now it is coming back to me. I remember this getting off to a slow start. I wanted to move on to other reads. But there was something about the main character that had me curious to see what this was all about.

Oh, and the problem of POV and changing from first to third person. Argh! I couldn’t figure it out. It seemed like a mistake but then I read some of the reviews on GoodReads and realized that it was a tool used to separate then and now. Still, I could have done without that shifting.

I loved the dark, death themes that this family seemed involved in. Notice the word ‘seemed’, as in the end that might be questioned.

This was a coming of age story. Yet it involves a lot of the human experience, old amd young alike. I would think this would be best read by new adults or older, younger readers might not recognize the rebelious nature presented.

And we’ve come full circle… In the end, I was very glad to have read it, experienced life from another’s eyes. Now I need to see if I can get ahold of a sequel.

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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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