Each Friday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly five word writing prompt. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for March 15, 2023
March 15, 2023 By 3 Comments
Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Today’s topic is: Favorite Historical Personage to read about
Top Ten Tuesday: Books on My Spring 2023 To-Read List
March 14, 2023 By 53 Comments
Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
Here are ten books I’m looking forward to reading this spring. Many of them are Young Adult titles because, at least in my experience, that genre seems to announce their new titles faster than other genres do. I wonder why that is? If you have an answer, I’d like to hear about it.
Dust Child by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai
Release Date: Today
Why I’m Interested: Most of my knowledge about the Vietnam War comes from reading about the experiences of American soldiers. It’s time to expand my knowledge and see how characters who live in Việt Nam would describe those years.
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
Release Date: March 21
Why I’m Interested: Séances spook me out too much to do them in real life, but I like reading about them.
The Fake by Zoe Whittall
Release Date: March 21
Why I’m Interested: I think it’s important for everyone to be aware of common scams and how to avoid them. The fact that this is written as fiction might make it more appealing to some readers, too.
Chlorine by Jade Song
Release Date: March 28
Why I’m Interested: It looks deliciously scary!
Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa
Release Date: April 4
Why I’m Interested: Spring is the time of year when I’m most likely to read romance novels, and this sounds like a good one.
House of Cotton by Monica Brashears
Release Date: April 4
Why I’m Interested: I have a soft spot for vulnerable people. My fingers are crossed that this protagonist realizes the man who offered to hire her was a shady guy and gets away from him before it’s too late.
Atalanta by Jennifer Saint
Release Date: April 13
Why I’m Interested: If you’ve read some of my previous seasonal TBR posts, you might have guessed this is Astilbe writing this post. It’s wonderful to see how many stories are coming out about ancient mythology, and I like to take note of as many of them as I can. I don’t actually know much about the original myth of Atalanta, but now I’m curious.
If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude
Release Date: May 9
Why I’m Interested: This covers a few different topics I like to read about: mental health, coming out, and the end of the world. I don’t think I’ve ever seen all three of them included in the same plot before.
Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi
Release Date: May 9
Why I’m Interested: I like coming of age stories, especially when characters discover things about the world their parents never told them.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
Release Date: May 2
Why I’m Interested: Operation Pied Piper is one of those pieces of World War II history that I wish would be discussed more often. When English children were temporarily evacuated to the countryside (as well as Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States) to keep them safe, we obviously didn’t know as much about attachment and child development as we do today. It’s so interesting to read about how they reacted to being separated from their loved ones for time periods that could be up to a couple of years and how those experiences were sometimes carried with them for the rest of their lives. I hope this book is a good representation of the many nuances to this project. Fingers crossed!
Friday Five Writing Prompt Challenge for March 10, 2023
March 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Each Friday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly five word writing prompt. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Today’s five words to use as your prompt are:
basin, examination, coffee, firm, aquarium
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for March 8, 2023
March 8, 2023 By 2 Comments
Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Today’s topic is: Something Funny That Happened to Me
Friday Five Writing Prompt Challenge for March 3, 2023
March 3, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Each Friday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly five word writing prompt. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Today’s five words to use as your prompt are:
heir, push, jury, tank, strike
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for March 1, 2023
March 1, 2023 By 2 Comments
Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
Today’s topic is: My Favorite Subject in School and Why
February Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Summer’s Second by Jeff Billington
February 28, 2023 By 6 Comments
Summer’s Second by Jeff Billington
Publisher: NineStar Press
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), LGBTQ, Romance, Contemporary
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe
Asher Brock’s last summer of youth is far from ideal. His hopes for the future, including an escape from his constricting Ozark Mountains hometown, seem increasingly fragile as he faces hurdles of poverty and abuse, all while coming to terms with being gay. Raised by an alcoholic single mother, he clings to his noted intelligence as an escape to a better life. But it will take more than brains—namely, strength of character and aspiration—for him to navigate the months leading to his senior year of high school.
The pregnancy of his recent girlfriend, the heightened aggression of his long-time bully, and the increasing presence of his long-absent father create a season of turmoil, spurring unease and self-doubt. But with support from family and friends, an opportunity for love, and the shedding of generations of secrets, Asher sees beyond preordained fate and starts to realize the opportunities in his grasp.
Top Ten Tuesday: Books We’ve Reviewed About Pets
February 28, 2023 By 46 Comments
Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
Yes, I’m stretching this week’s prompt a little bit. I’m doing it because I love seeing those displays in bookstores that group all sorts of books together based on something they have in common.
In this case, pets are featured in all of these stories which is something I love reading about. You can learn so much about someone by observing the way they treat the animals in their lives.
Here are ten books we’ve reviewed about characters who have one or more pets.
1. The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall
Genre: Middle Grade
Animal(s) Mentioned: Rabbits
2. Cold Feet River by Maureen Fisher
Genre: Romance, Mystery
Animal(s) Mentioned: A dog
3. Fishbowl by Bradley Somer
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Animal(s) Mentioned: A fish
4. Birdseye Chronicles by L.A. Goldsmith
Genre: Middle Grade
Animal(s) Mentioned: Dogs
5. An Inheritance for the Birds by Linda Banche
Genre: Historical Romance
Animal(s) Mentioned: Ducks
6. How Cats Survived the Apocalypse by Justin Allan Arnold
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Animal(s) Mentioned: Cats
7. Good Luck Chestnut: and Other Lucky Colors of the World by Linda Gruenberg
Genre: Children’s
Animal(s) Mentioned: A horse
8. A School of Daughters by Kate Rene MacKenzie
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Animal(s) Mentioned: A dog, a horse, a packrat, two owls, a chipmunk, a rattlesnake, and a grosbeak.
9. Luna’s Green Pet by Kirsten Pendreigh
Genre: Children’s
Animal(s) Mentioned: A plant (but it is treated like a pet!)
10. Cats Can’t Shoot by Clea Simon
Genre: Mystery
Animal(s) Mentioned: A cat
Friday Five Writing Prompt Challenge for February 24, 2023
February 24, 2023 By Leave a Comment
Each Friday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly five word writing prompt. For more details on how to participate, please click here.
