Solitaire by Alice Oseman

September 8, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Solitaire by Alice Oseman
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genre: YA, Ages 14+, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The amazing novel that introduced Nick and Charlie from HEARTSTOPPER — and the unforgettable Tori Spring.
Tori Spring isn’t sure how to be happy again. Then she meets Michael Holden, and they try to unmask the mysterious Solitaire (and survive high school) in Alice Oseman’s stunning, unflinching honest debut novel, which first introduced her fan-favorite Heartstopper characters Nick and Charlie.

Teens and tragedy, but it’s so good.

I have to start this by mentioning this story will have triggers. There is a mention of suicide, thoughts of suicide, eating disorders, mental health and LGBTQ issues. These all make this book so good. They do. This is how life is seen through the eyes of teens, many who are struggling and just can’t make sense of their lives. It’s relatable and real.

Tori Spring is the sister of Charlie Spring (from the Heartbreaker books) and she’s lost. Not physically, but she feels lost in the ocean of high school. This book is set in England, but applies to students all across the world in that age range (14+). She feels lost and she’s not entirely sure why. Reading as she sorted out parts of her life was interesting, tender, sweet and so tragic at times. She’s trying so hard, but yet not trying at all.

I loved the reality of the story and how the characters popped from the page. They love themselves, but secretly hate themselves. They’re simple, yet complicated. They’re human.

If you’re looking for a complex YA book that will leave you with lots of thoughts, then this is the book for you. Check it out.

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

All Up in Your Bizness by Julianna Newland

September 7, 2023 By Leave a Comment


All Up in Your Bizness by Julianna Newland
Publisher: Fulton Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

All up in Your Bizness is my first book (not counting my diary). Although I have written dozens of speeches, testimonials, newsletters, and talking points, they do not contain the wit and whimsy of this book. I have been employed for more than thirty years in several jobs, where I have seen hilarious shenanigans of the men and women who worked with me and the processes and programs that often befuddled us.

A labor of love and giggles, this book is to be enjoyed as a tongue-in-cheek look at many business circumstances, such as the interview, office kiss-ups, performance reviews, working from home, and working in the open office. Practical and useful advice is also provided.

Unspoken rules can be the hardest ones of all to follow.

As soon as the blurb mentioned this was going to be a tongue-in-cheek book, I knew I had to read it. The author had a fabulous sense of humor, and I chuckled my way through her various anecdotes about what Human Resources may claim a business is like versus what it’s actually like to work there. This is a fun choice for anyone who has ever silently wished they could add a few pages to their employee handbook about what it’s actually like to work for their company.

I loved Ms. Newland’s observations about how life has improved for women in the workplace over the past few decades. It would have been wonderful to also have sections on how things have evolved for people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, disabled workers, and other minority groups over time. I was surprised that none of these topics were covered and would have happily gone for a full five-star rating if they were.

With that being said, I was pleased to see the comparisons between various generations in the workplace. Not everyone from the same generation will behave the same way, of course, but there have been some cultural shifts over time when it comes to things like what an appropriate outfit for work looks like or how much overtime a worker is or isn’t willing to do on a regular basis. Bringing these assumptions out into the open is an important part of making sure everyone is on the same page, and it can also add extra humor to the mix if finding common ground is harder than expected.

All Up in Your Bizness made me smile.

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

Firebreak by Richard Stark

September 5, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Firebreak by Richard Stark
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Between Parker’s 1961 debut and his return in the late 1990s, the whole world of crime changed. Now fake IDs and credit cards had to be purchased from specialists; increasingly sophisticated policing made escape and evasion tougher; and, worst of all, money had gone digital—the days of cash-stuffed payroll trucks were long gone.

But cash isn’t everything: Flashfire and Firebreak find Parker going after, respectively, a fortune in jewels and a collection of priceless paintings. In Flashfire, Parker’s in West Palm Beach, competing with a crew that has an unhealthy love of explosions. When things go sour, Parker finds himself shot and trapped—and forced to rely on a civilian to survive. Firebreak takes Parker to a palatial Montana “hunting lodge” where a dot-com millionaire hides a gallery of stolen old masters—which will fetch Parker a pretty penny if his team can just get it past the mansion’s tight security. The forests of Montana are an inhospitable place for a heister when well-laid plans fall apart, but no matter how untamed the wilderness, Parker’s guaranteed to be the most dangerous predator around.

Parker is brought in on an interesting heist by two colleagues he’s worked well within the past. This time it’s the Montana refuge of a dot com billionaire and his very well secured mini art gallery that’s in the team’s sights. With plenty of security the team’s tech is positive he can overcome they’re keen to get the many priceless paintings. Only someone is on Parker’s tail and the team is on a tight timeframe. Can they make it work?

I’ve found the Parker heist series to be an absolute gem. Tersely written and somewhat gritty, this series might have been around for a while but it solidly holds up to time. Some things – like heisters planning and executing a heist – simply doesn’t go out of fashion to my mind. Parker himself also holds true. Focused, driven and coldly professional he’s an anti-hero but one of the absolute best to my mind and still somehow the character you’re rooting for most. Even if I’d not want to try and carry out a conversation with him.

Stark’s usual formula is also at play here. The book is divided up into four sections and they each weave perfectly together. Readers who pick this up and are new to the series are in for a treat – these are like a block of the very best chocolate or a packet of your favourite treats. Once you start you simply want another then another. The pacing is excellent – fast enough you get carried away by the action and heist itself, but not so fast you can’t work out exactly what’s happening. The characters are leanly written and there’s virtually no flourishes at all to the writing – it’s like an older, hard-boiled kind of detective novel in all the best ways.

An excellent heist story with a small but intriguing set of characters and an exceptional writing style that gives you everything you need and a few good twists in the plot I found this to be a wonderful story and another addition to a series that’s one of my absolute favourites. Recommended.

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

Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler

August 31, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler
Publisher: Knopf
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction, Historical
Rating: 4 stars
Review by Snowdrop

Abandoned by her wanderlusting husband, stoic Pearl raised her three children on her own. Now grown, the siblings are inextricably linked by their memories—some painful—which hold them together despite their differences.

Hardened by life’s disappointments, wealthy, charismatic Cody has turned cruel and envious. Thrice-married Jenny is errant and passionate. And Ezra, the flawed saint of the family, who stayed at home to look after his mother, runs a restaurant where he cooks what other people are homesick for, stubbornly yearning for the perfect family he never had.

Now gathered during a time of loss, they will reluctantly unlock the shared secrets of their past and discover if what binds them together is stronger than what tears them apart.

I just read “Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant” and have read “A Spool of Blue Thread”. I think Anne Tyler hits close to home in some instances in her books. I don’t mean these are whole books about one’s putrid, confused, or plain old messed up childhood or lifestyle. There just seem to be pieces that you can pull out and they just fit. And…I think she makes people mad. I think she makes her readers either feel something they have experienced or feel for someone who has.

I thought Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant was stark and sad. It seems to flow back and forth from one family member to another. Yet somehow the pieces and the pictures of the family are put together. Woven into a whole horrid picture of life.

I think Anne Tyler is a somewhat profound writer. Both of these books were well-written. I found what I read sad, and they left me in a blue mood, or maybe just a reflective one. Do these things make this a bad book? Not one bit. It makes it a book to read and see what you think.

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

Dozer’s Run – A True Story of a Dog and His Race by Debbie Levy and Rosana Panza

August 28, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Dozer’s Run – A True Story of a Dog and His Race by Debbie Levy and Rosana Panza
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Dozer the Goldendoodle has a wonderful life! He and his best friend, Chica, belong to a loving family. They have warm beds to sleep in, enough food to eat, and plenty of room in their yard to play and investigate. What more could a good dog want? As it turns out, Dozer wants an adventure. And when a runner runs past his yard, followed by another, and another, and another, Dozer decides to follow and see what is happening. In May 2011, unbeknownst to his owner, Dozer slipped out of his yard in Highland, Maryland, enticed by the sight of people running past. The runners were participating in the Maryland Half Marathon, a race benefitting the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center. Dozer joined the 2,000 runners in the race, inspiring everyone along the 13-mile race course. By the time his adventure was over and he was reunited with his family, Dozer’s “Run” encouraged thousands of pledges in support of the Greenebaum Cancer Center. This true story of a playful dog that actually runs a half marathon entertains as well as inspires.

There’s more than one way to win a marathon.

I loved the gentle humor of this picture book. Some of the funniest scenes were the ones that tried to explain Dozer’s explanation of what those mysterious humans were doing when he found so many of them running past his yard. Surely they must have been chasing something amazing, right? I grinned as he made the sudden decision to join them in their race to see if his assumption was correct.

It would have been helpful to have a better explanation of how this dog escaped from his yard, especially since Chica, the other dog in their family, stayed put. Did he find a hole in a fence or slip out of his leash, for example? If this question had been answered, I would have gone for a full five star rating.

There’s a chapter of this tale that nobody except Dozer will ever know the true details of that involves where he went and what he did after the marathon ended and he was relatively far away from home. The authors did a wonderful job of sharing what the humans were able to figure out about how he spent that night while still keeping everything factual. That must have been a tricky balance to maintain, so I’m glad they pulled it off so nicely.

Dozer’s Run – A True Story of a Dog and His Race was a thrilling adventure.

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

Movie Review: Big Crow

August 28, 2023 By 1 Comment

Big Crow
Director: Kris Kaczor
Writer: Inila Wakan
Producer: Kevin Bayson
Cinematography: Matt Lyons
Editor: Steve Nemsic
Rated: 4 Stars (8 stars on IMDB)
Review by: Astilbe

BIG CROW is a verité-style documentary that tells the story of how young Lakota basketball star SuAnne Big Crow became an activist, and how her message of hope continues to help her people reclaim their culture 30 years after her death. Part biography and part social commentary, BIG CROW is a story about the power of hope in the most destitute place in America, South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Found in the poorest county in America, Pine Ridge is plagued by rampant drug, alcohol, and sexual abuse which drives the highest teen suicide rate in the country. Access to healthy food and health care is virtually non-existent, and the Lakota there continue to experience the oppressive racism that outlawed their religion, language, and traditions 130 years ago. It’s possible that there has never been a people more in need of a hero than SuAnne’s Lakota tribe.

By age 14, SuAnne Big Crow had become one of South Dakota’s best basketball players, leading her Pine Ridge Lady Thorpes to become the first ever Native American state champions. By age 17, her social activism had made her a household name across the Great Plains. Thirty years after her tragic death, SuAnne’s pride in her people continues to galvanize the Lakota in their fight to save their language and reclaim their culture.

Heroes live in every community.

It was wonderful to explore modern Lakota culture in Pine Ridge. I must confess that I didn’t know a lot about this topic before I watched this documentary, so I appreciated how much effort was put into sharing not only the struggles of this tribe but also their triumphs as well. Everything was balanced out nicely, and it made me want to dive even more deeply into this topic. There were so many things about their culture that didn’t quite fit into the scope of this film but that I yearned to learn more about. To me, that is a sign of a job well done, indeed!

As much as I loved seeing how SuAnne’s legacy has positively impacted her tribe for more than thirty years now, I would have liked to see a little more attention paid to who she was as a person before she died. Her time on the basketball court was documented beautifully, but I didn’t get as much of a sense of who she was in other areas of her life. For example, she seemed to be an outgoing person who had a fantastic sense of humor, but it would have been helpful to have more stories about how she behaved and why she was so obviously adored by everyone who knew her.

One of the most difficult aspects of living through a tragedy can be finding meaning in pain and grief that feels meaningless. SuAnne’s family, friends, and community found so many incredible ways to honor her memory and continue her work to improve life for everyone in their tribe. Without giving away too many spoilers, they have excelled at remembering SuAnne and encouraging the next generation to follow her example. I especially enjoyed the last ten minutes or so that showed how far her influence has spread and how much of a difference she’s still making in the lives of people who weren’t even born yet when she was alive.

Big Crow was a tear-jerker and a fabulous exploration of a portion of modern history I knew nothing about.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review Tagged With: , , , ,

Pete the Cat and the Itsy Bitsy Spider by James Dean

August 24, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Pete the Cat and the Itsy Bitsy Spider by James Dean
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Childrens (0-5 yrs), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Pete the Cat’s cool adaptation of the classic children’s song “Itsy Bitsy Spider” will have have young readers laughing and singing along.

The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout. Down came the rain….

As the itsy bitsy spider struggles, Pete and his friends know just what to do to help out!

Fans of James Dean’s #1 New York Times bestselling Pete the Cat will love rocking out with Pete.

I loved this book!

It’s so cute. The itsy bitsy spider story is fun and now it’s been told with Pete the Cat. Children can sing along with the story and it’s repetitive, so it’s easy for younger readers. It’s also got a good message that you should never give up. Keep trying. I loved that. The art is so colorful and bright, too, sure to draw in younger readers.

If you’re looking for a fun book for a rainy afternoon, this one is sure to please.

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

Splat and the Cool School Trip by Rob Scotton

August 23, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Splat and the Cool School Trip by Rob Scotton
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Childrens (Ages 0-8), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Join Splat the Cat on a school trip to the zoo in New York Times bestselling author-artist Rob Scotton’s hilarious new adventure, Splat and the Cool School Trip.

Splat the Cat is so excited when Mrs. Wimpydimple announces that the class will be going to the zoo. While everyone calls out his or her favorite animal—Elephant! Giraffe! Monkey!—Splat only wants to see the penguins. After all, penguins are perfect; they are black and white, just like Splat!

All day long, Splat just can’t wait. But when the smallest animal makes the biggest splash and shuts down the penguin exhibit, Splat goes home disappointed and alone . . . or does he?

Fans of Splat the Cat will delight in this story about zoo animals and enjoy Splat’s always-present enthusiasm.

A silly little cat and his obsession with penguins.

I loved this book because Splat is so cute. He’s determined to see the penguins on the school trip, but he’s got to handle the sadness because he can’t see them. I liked how this taught the lesson that you can’t always get what you want, but it’s done in a funny way so it doesn’t feel preachy. I loved the little twist in the story, too. So worth the read.

The writing is fun and the pictures even better.

If you’re looking for a story about not always getting what you want and how to deal, then this might be the book for you and your young reader.

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

Memories of John Lennon by Yoko Ono, editor

August 22, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Memories of John Lennon by Yoko Ono, editor
Publisher: It Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

John Lennon . . . as much a part of our world today as he ever was

He touched many lives in his brief forty years, and continues to move and inspire millions more to this day. Now, invited by Yoko Ono, friends, family, and fans from all walks of life—including some of the great artists of our day—reminisce about Lennon as a visionary and friend, musician and performer, husband and father, activist and jokester.

In their own words and drawings, poems and photos, Lennon’s life from his childhood through the Beatles years to the happiness and tragedy of his final days become stunningly vivid.

Intimate glimpses gathered from musicians who knew John, such as Pete Townshend, Sir Elton John, Billy Preston, and Joan Baez; friends and relatives such as producer David Geffen, publicist Elliot Mintz, and cousin Mike Cadwallader; and artists who followed him such as Bono, Alicia Keys, Steve Earle, Jello Biafra, and Carlos Santana.

And, for the first time, renowned photographer Annie Liebovitz presents every frame of the historic last session with John and Yoko.

Memories of John Lennon is a rich and deeply felt appreciation of a truly great man.

How do you speak about a legend?

I picked up this book because I wanted to read what others had said about John Lennon. I know how I felt about him and his music, but what about his peers? This is a good way to see how they felt and what they thought. Ono adds her own special touches and the little drawings really added to the stories.

I liked the stories about how Lennon affected their lives, but also the court paperwork and the paperwork from the FBI. Lennon was a complicated man and it shows in these pages.

If you’re a fan of the Beatles, then you need to read this. If you like John Lennon, then you really need to read this.

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

Nanny for the Firemen by Cassie Cole

August 21, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Nanny for the Firemen by Cassie Cole
Publisher: Juicy Gems Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Dicentra

I finally landed a date with the swooniest, most gorgeous fireman in town.
But just when our date was going well, he got called back to the firehouse.
Turns out, a baby was left on the fire station doorstep.
And since they’re clueless about taking care of a baby, they recruit me to help.

Now I’m crashing at the firehouse with them.
Three hulking, chiseled heroes in suspenders.
And even though I came here to take care of the baby, they soon turn their sights on me…

I spend my days taking care of the baby,
And at night, the firemen take care of me.
Can we control the attraction spreading through the station like wildfire?
Or will our entire situation go up in smoke?

NANNY FOR THE FIREMEN is a scorching Reverse Harem love story filled with humor, emotion, and enough excitement to leave you sweaty and breathless. HEA guaranteed!

Cassie Cole’s books have always been some of my favorite romances available on Kindle Unlimited, and Nanny for the Firemen was no exception. Clara has come home for a while to help her mother at their restaurant after the passing of her father, and one of the highlights of her week is the weekly delivery to the three hunky firemen at the fire station. She’s thrilled when one of them asks her out on a date. However, their night out is interrupted after a baby is surrendered at the station. Clara gets roped into helping take care of the baby while the four of them do their best to get him into a good home. Lots of fun relationship growth ensues, as Clara and her firemen lovers work to hide the baby from everyone (including her overbearing Italian mother who is desperate for grandbabies).

As opposed to other authors in the reverse harem genre, her books include a great plot along with the steamy scenes, and I really connected to this one in particular. I really appreciated and took note of how much care went into researching the safe haven laws, as well as highlighting some of the current failings of America’s foster care system. All of the characters were fun (especially Clara’s mother) and I really enjoyed getting to see Billy get what was coming to him.

Overall, Nanny for the Firemen was another great read from Cassie Cole. Her books are a perfect choice when you’re looking for a fun and steamy reverse harem romance you can finish in an afternoon. If you’re not into reverse harem novels, I also recommend checking out her pen name K.T. Quinn where she writes monogamous happily ever after romance stories (with the same amount of spice).

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