The Never-Ending Sweater by Erin Welch

August 23, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Never-Ending Sweater by Erin Welch
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A heartfelt story that celebrates the power of intergenerational love, connection and friendship, featuring the nostalgic imagery of a small East Coast village.

When Peter was little, he asked his grandmother to knit him a VERY big sweater. So she made him a sweater with love knit into every stitch. Young Peter wore the sweater, with its drooping sleeves and oversized body, everywhere he went. Eventually, Peter outgrew his small seaside village and decided to see the world with his sweater providing comfort and a reminder of home on every adventure. After traveling for many years, he returns home to find a new family next door. They too have traveled from far away, and Peter finds a connection with the young son, who also needs a comforting reminder of home.

Love comes in all shapes and sizes, including fuzzy ones!

I adored the descriptions of Peter’s childhood in a small, Canadian town by the ocean. He was free to run around and play wherever he wished to, and he made sweet memories on the beach and in his grandparents’ backyard. What made these scenes ever better were the later ones that explained why he decided to leave his community and explore the world. It was such a kind and respectful look at why some people love small town life while others are happier elsewhere.

One of the big things I wish this tale had explained was how the sweater lasted for decades and still looked brand new. Kids are notoriously hard on their clothing, and some scenes showed Peter romping around on stony beaches and other places where it would be easy to snag a sweater on something and maybe tear a hole in it. If only the narrator had explained whether there was something magical going on here or if Peter’s grandmother quietly repaired the sweater when he wasn’t looking!

The ending made me smile. There were so many similarities between it and the beginning that it made me want to read the whole thing over again. I also appreciate the way it tied all of Peter’s adventures into who he was as an older adult and what he’d learned from his travels.

The Never-Ending Sweater was a cozy autumn read.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Buried In Secret by Viveca Sten

August 22, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Buried In Secret by Viveca Sten
Publisher: Self-published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When two cold case disappearances are reopened, a decade of deadly secrets is unearthed on Sandhamn Island in the #1 bestselling thriller by Viveca Sten, author of In Bad Company.

A woman’s skeletal remains are excavated on an uninhabited island in Sandhamn’s archipelago, and Thomas Andreasson is called to officially investigate. But his best friend, Nora Linde, can’t help but get involved.

On leave after her last case took a dark turn, Nora is tortured by depression, nightmares, and guilt. Her marriage fractured, her pride chipped away, Nora could find redemption in this investigation. Then evidence suggests two possible cold cases linked to the grim discovery: two women who have been missing for ten years. Now Nora feels compelled to unearth a mystery someone has gone to great pains to bury. What could have happened to require such a cover-up?

As the cold case vanishings converge, Nora follows a twisting trail of revenge, blackmail, and betrayal. She’s also inviting the watchful eye of someone determined to stop her. To free herself from the damaging grip of the past—and the reach of a relentless killer—Nora is going to have to brave the darkness one more time.

Summer is drawing to a close and it’s been a very difficult one for Nora Linde. On extended medical leave after her last case left dark marks on her emotions, Nora is struggling to return to regular life again. When her best friend, Thomas, is drawn into the skeletal remains of a woman found buried deep on an isolated Nora is devastated to learn she likely knew the poor young victim. Thomas also is investigating the death, but there were two missing women from that long time ago. Could the cases be connected somehow?

This book picks up fairly quickly after the last one finishes. Often in this series there is quite a lag between books – even numerous years sometimes – but the previous book finished with a bit of a twist and so I was pleased only a few short months have passed between then and this book. Nora is struggling with quite heavy feelings of guilt and depression. This means in some ways her character is quite different to the comfortable and strongly confident Nora I’ve become used to reading about. While I did enjoy the fact this Nora felt a lot more relatable and human, it also came across quite strangely to me that this Nora was so different to the woman I’ve read about in all the previous books.

I did very much enjoy the police procedural aspects to this book. Thomas has always been a very up and down character – sometimes strong and confidant, sometimes depressed or moody, so his character felt very normal and consistent to me with the previous books. I very much liked the methodical puzzle solving of the murder mystery and trying to figure out who the victim was and what had occurred more than a decade ago. I feel readers who enjoy Scandinavian crime and mystery should likely enjoy this book and probably enjoy the entirety of this series. These books tend to be a little darker and grittier than many other popular fiction writers, but personally I’ve grown quite a taste for them and find them highly enjoyable and strongly relatable.

I found this to be an excellent addition to the series and hope there might be more from this author to come in the future. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Stop Being Mean to Yourself: A Story About Finding The True Meaning of Self-Love by Melody Beattie

August 21, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Stop Being Mean to Yourself: A Story About Finding The True Meaning of Self-Love by Melody Beattie
Publisher: Hazeldon Publishing
Genre: Self-Help, Contemporary, Non-Fiction
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Beckoning readers toward a spiritual territory beyond even that of her revolutionary best-seller Codependent No More, Melody Beattie conducts us through teeming Casablanca, war-torn Algeria, and the caverns of Egypt’s great pyramids as she embarks on a new kind of journey of the soul.

An enlightening blend of travel adventure and spiritual discovery, filled with new ideas for overcoming the pitfalls of guilt and self-doubt, Stop Being Mean to Yourself is a compassionate tour guide for the troubled and the heartsick, for those who seek a happier place in the world. A tale that is at once modern and timeless, rich with the promise of personal discovery, it is a book about learning the art of living and of loving others — and ourselves. As full of suspense and excitement as it is of hope and encouragement, it is as rewarding for its pure reading pleasure as for the wisdom it imparts.

It seems so easy, but the title isn’t so easy after all.

Stop Being Mean to Yourself. Like I said, it should be easy, but it’s not. We’re all mean to ourselves in one way or another. In this book, Beattie talks about how to stop, but this isn’t the usual self-help story. This is her story and how she learned the biggest lesson of all – you’ve only got yourself and if you beat yourself up, you’re the one who has to pick you up. You’re all you’ve got.

Seems like a huge thing to understand, but it’s not. We all tear ourselves down in one way or another and it’s high time we stopped. We put too much pressure on ourselves. This book doesn’t necessarily show how to overcome being mean to yourself, but it shows that giving yourself some self-love and compassion will help.

If you’re interesting reading a story that involves a personal journey, then this one will be good for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner

August 17, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner
Publisher: Perennial Library
Genre: Non-Fiction, Self-Help
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The renowned classic and New York Times bestseller that has transformed the lives of millions of readers, dramatically changing how women and men view relationships.

Anger is something we feel. It exists for a reason and always deserves our respect and attention. We all have a right to everything we feel—and certainly our anger is no exception.

“Anger is a signal and one worth listening to,” writes Dr. Harriet Lerner in her renowned classic that has transformed the lives of millions of readers. While anger deserves our attention and respect, women still learn to silence our anger, to deny it entirely, or to vent it in a way that leaves us feeling helpless and powerless. In this engaging and eminently wise book, Dr. Lerner teaches both women and men to identify the true sources of anger and to use it as a powerful vehicle for creating lasting change.

For decades, this book has helped millions of readers learn how to turn their anger into a constructive force for reshaping their lives. With a new introduction by the author, The Dance of Anger is ready to lead the next generation.

Want to tackle your anger and be a better listener? Then this book is for you.

I picked up this book because I went on a self-help binge and wanted tips as to how to manage my anger better as well as be a better listener. This book did help with that. I liked that the author encourages the reader to be their own self. Be yourself. That’s huge. Many people disappear into relationships or into what they have with the other person, so this bit of information did help. In some ways, this book is a bit sexist, but it’s also empowering. Women are taught to say no, taught to not want things and this book shows that that doesn’t have to be the case. I liked the tips and suggestions. One doesn’t have to suffer in silence and can stand up for themselves.

If you’re wanting to be a better listener, then give this book a try. You’ll learn a lot. It’ll also give you tips about dealing with anger. Give it a chance.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

From Stressed To Best — A Proven Program For Reducing Everyday Stress by by Ruth E Schneider and David S Prudhomme

August 15, 2023 By Leave a Comment


From Stressed To Best — A Proven Program For Reducing Everyday Stress by by Ruth E Schneider and David S Prudhomme
Publisher: Lulu
Genre: Self-Help, Non-Fiction
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A proven program for reducing everyday stress that produces remarkable results! Because people are different, a “one-size-fits-all” approach to stress reduction simply will not work. Instead, From Stressed to Best uses definable personality differences to pinpoint specific, individualized steps to reduce your stress.

Want to learn how to handle your stress better? Then check this book out.

I picked up this book because I wanted to know how to better handle my stress. This book certainly did help. It showed me my personality and my traits, but also how to look at the stress once it happens. I learned about my personality – extroverted, sensing, thinking, perceiving. Now I know that when I get stressed, I revert to being an introvert. I try to get away from people. I pull inside myself. Now it makes sense. Now I can figure out how to better deal.

I liked that this book showed me a bit about myself.

If you’re looking for a book that’s going to give a bit of insight about your personality and how to deal with stress, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

In Bad Company by Viveca Sten

August 15, 2023 By Leave a Comment


In Bad Company by Viveca Sten
Publisher: Self-Published/Amazon Crossing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Sandhamn Island’s archipelago is a beautiful place to visit. For a mother on the run, it’s the only place to hide in a novel of escalating suspense by Viveca Sten, bestselling author of Still Waters.

Building a case against Andreis Kovač is a risky strategy for prosecutor Nora Linde. A violent key player in Stockholm’s drug trade and untouchable when it comes to financial crimes, he has the best defense money can buy. To topple Andreis’s empire, Nora’s working a different angle. It’s personal. Nora’s critical witness is Andreis’s wife, Mina—if she’ll testify.

Mina has suffered her husband’s rage too long. It’s nearly cost her her life. Still carrying the traumas of the Bosnian War, Andreis can be triggered like an explosive. He must be taken down. And as the trial looms, Mina and her infant son must disappear. The police have found her a safe place to hide on Runmarö Island in Sandhamn’s archipelago. But there’s no shelter from a man as powerful and merciless as Andreis. Especially when he’s being crossed.

His campaign of terror has just begun. He’s prepared to crush anyone who stands in his way: Mina, Nora, and everyone they know and love. Andreis is coming for them. This time, Nora is on the defense.

Prosecutor Nora Linde is trying to build a fraud case against Andreis Kovac and finding it difficult. When Kovac’s wife ends up in hospital – Kovac’s abuse finally more than she can successfully hide or explain away – Nora works hard to help the woman escape her abusive marriage. As Kovac and his rage spirals out of control, Thomas is drawn into the suspicious murder of one of Kovac’s longest standing friends. Can Nora and Thomas keep the innocent from being harmed before it’s too late?

I have been really enjoying this Scandinavian mystery series and found this latest addition to be a solid and well plotted read. There were a few different threads of the story that the author managed to weave together very well as the plot progressed. While I do feel readers new to this series should be able to pick this book up and enjoy it on it’s own merits, there is a fair bit of history between Nora and her family, and also Thomas and his marriage that might not be easily picked up until well into the book.

As this is the ninth book in the series some of the character’s backstory seems to be expected to be understood so I do feel some readers might feel a little lost initially. The plot though and everything connected to both the legal trial Nora is building as well as the murder Thomas is investigating is all very well explained and self contained in this book. Only a few aspects of Nora and Thomas’ private lives are a little less clearly defined for readers.

I felt there was a really good amount of tension and build up to this book. The stakes grow quite high – especially as Kovac clearly loses control over himself and his escalation had me feeling quite worried in a number of places. I was also pleased with the ending – I felt it was quite a satisfactory wrap up – though I do have to admit the epilogue threw me for a bit of a curve and while it didn’t quite feel like a cliffhanger I did jump immediately online to discover if the next (and I believe possibly final) book in the series carried this plotline on or if it was a new case for Nora and Thomas. Readers who hate any lose threads might want to make sure they have both this and the next book in the series before they begin to read, as I could understand if some readers might want to jump immediately into the next book after reading this epilogue.

A well written and tightly paced murder mystery this is a good Scandinavian noir style of legal and police procedural novel.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Great Cat Tales Edited by Lesley O’Mara

August 14, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Great Cat Tales Edited by Lesley O’Mara
Publisher: Carroll & Graf
Genre: Historical, Fiction
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Respected authors, such as James Herriot and Doris Lessing, spin twenty yarns about cats.

So many stories about cats and only so much time.

I picked up this book because it featured stories about cats. I love cats, I love books…what could go wrong? Nothing, really. There are twenty stories in this anthology and they’re across the gamut of stories about cats.

I liked the variety because there’s so much to learn about cats and there’s so much to infer about them, too. Some of the stories are hard to read in that they’re longer than others – so those wanting short stories might be a bit put off. And also, some involved not so fun endings. I want to read uplifting stories and these weren’t always that, but that doesn’t mean others won’t like this anthology. It’s still good and the stories are wonderful.

If you’re looking for an anthology of animal stories and love cats, then this might be the one for you.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch

August 14, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster.

Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth’s protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned–and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.

Science is full of possibilities.

Mario had such a loving and supportive family. They even cleared out an unused bathroom in their house so he could perform science experiments when he was a kid! I smiled as I read about the many other ways they supported his interest in science even when it led to a few unpleasant mixtures of chemicals. That’s exactly the sort of home every child should grow up in!

This picture book didn’t seem to be written with a clear audience in mind. Some portions were lighthearted, playful, and seemed to be meant for preschoolers. Other sections were much more serious and complex and probably would be more appealing to middle schoolers or even adults. As much as I enjoyed learning about Mario Molina’s life and scientific achievements, I’d struggle to figure out who to share this with and how to simplify the science in it for kids who haven’t studied chemistry yet.

With that being said, it was so interesting to learn the history of who discovered that humans were causing the destruction of the ozone layer around Earth back in the 1980s and how he convinced the world to stop using products that were making this problem worse. It was inspiring to learn how everyone pulled together to solve this crisis, and it gave me a lot of hope for all of the current efforts to reduce pollution and slow down or maybe even figure out how to reverse climate change today.

Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet was exciting.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Dark Hours by David J Gatward

August 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Dark Hours by David J Gatward
Publisher: Weirdstone Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A murder game. A real dead body. Can he help a friend through a torrent of danger?

DCI Harry Grimm smells trouble brewing. As the Chief Inspector and his team prepare for a harsh winter storm, a call comes in from an old pal that a remote PI training session in the Dales he is attending has abruptly ended in a suspicious death. And while the gruff detective struggles through a blizzard to reach the crime scene, the residents of a nearby house come to a fatal end.

Questioning the attendees in a bid to narrow down the list of suspects, Grimm worries about the treacherous weather isolating them from the rest of the Dales… and his overdue backup. But when a group of strangers arrives in search of an escape from the savage storm, he could be opening the door to another round of murders.

Can he keep everyone safe when the rules turn lethal?

DCI Harry Grimm and his team are preparing for a harsh winter storm, when he gets a call from an old and important friend calls him with some bad news. A PI training weekend has gone horribly wrong, with the fake “murder mystery” turning out to be anything except fraudulent. And most of the people present have reason to hate the deceased. With the threat looming of them getting all snowed in and phone reception dodgy at best, can Harry and his team uncover what is really going on?

I’ve been really enjoying this series and find it a good blend of believable police procedural and interesting small-town crime murder mystery. There is a solid cast of relatable and enjoyable characters and even though a few of the secondary characters – particularly those in the local small villages – feel like they’re a little bit of a caricature, it all rolls up into a strongly believable mystery book. The plots are varied and interesting and in particular the main murder mystery was very well paced and plotted I felt.

I have also strongly enjoyed how Harry has evolved over the past few books and really felt that having an important – and long standing – friend portrayed in this book really helped highlight to the reader just how changed Harry has become and how the Dales have made him such a better – and happier – man overall.

This is an excellent series and while I do feel this book can be read by itself and with none of the previous books, I do feel readers will enjoy this better having read at least a few of the other installments so they have a good feel for Harry and his tightly knit police team. And excellent rural police procedural mystery book.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

A SEALs Touch by Tawny Weber

August 8, 2023 By Leave a Comment


A SEALs Touch by Tawny Weber
Publisher: Harlequin Mills And Boon
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Subject: Navy SEAL Taylor Powell

Mission: Find a sexy fake girlfriend…with even sexier benefits!

Lieutenant Taylor “The Wizard” Powell has a reputation for getting out of tricky situations. Bad guys, bombs, weapons—no problem. Finding a girlfriend in order to evade matchmaking friends? Not so easy. He’s banking on contractor Cat Peres to help him out…not realizing his tomboy friend has a whole lot of sexy surprises hidden in her tool belt.

Cat can’t remember a time when Taylor wasn’t the object of her hottest dreams—so she can’t help but agree to his plan. Their only rule? Friends, no matter what. Except the deliciously hot chemistry that ignites between them takes them both by surprise…and having nothing between them might just ruin everything.

Lieutenant Taylor Powell is used to taking care of himself, but he’s really struggling to avoid what feels like everyone in his life trying to set him up with a long procession of women. So he reaches out to one of his closest friends, Cat Peres to try and stem the tide. What starts as a fake relationship all too quickly becomes real for them both – but can they risk their long-term friendship on something that might not work out?

This is a very enjoyable, spicy romance. Readers who like the “friends to lovers” trope should feel this is a very satisfying story. While Cat has been smitten with Taylor for years, I really did enjoy how she didn’t just hang around for him. She was completely modern and carried on with her work and life and I was really pleased with this.

With these sorts of books, I am always amused and enjoy how surprised the hero inevitably is by the chemistry and shock at looking at such a long-standing friend in a new light. I really enjoyed how Taylor didn’t try to walk away from that, especially once he realized it was obviously more than just hormones, but a strong and real connection.

Sassy and fun, this is a great and quick read I really enjoyed.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , ,
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