Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour

April 29, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle by Nina LaCour
Publisher: Candlewick
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), LGBTQ, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A little girl stays home with Mama when Mommy goes off on a work trip in this tender, inviting story that will resonate with every child who has missed a parent.

For one little girl, there’s no place she’d rather be than sitting between Mama and Mommy. So when Mommy goes away on a work trip, it’s tricky to find a good place at the table. As the days go by, Mama brings her to the library, they watch movies, and all of them talk on the phone, but she still misses Mommy as deep as the ocean and as high as an astronaut up in the stars. As they pass by a beautiful garden, the girl gets an idea . . . but when Mommy finally comes home, it takes a minute to shake off the empty feeling she felt all week before leaning in for a kiss. Michael L. Printz Award winner Nina LaCour thoughtfully renders a familiar, touching story of a child who misses a parent, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita, whose distinctive style brings charm and playfulness to this delightful family of three.

It’s never fun to be left behind.

One of my favorite scenes happened early on when the main character was in a classroom setting and mentioned missing her Mommy. The details might differ a little from one family to the next, but everyone misses someone they love at one point or another. Seeing how the teacher and her classmates responded to her was heartwarming. I couldn’t have imagined a better response to her admission that she was having a hard time.

The only thing I wish had been written differently in this tale was the ending. There were so many touching scenes earlier on in the plot that I was a bit surprised by how quickly it was all wrapped up. It would have been nice to have an extra scene or two at the end where the girl talked about her week at home with Mama and heard what Mommy had been up to during her business trip as well.

This was a gentle, honest exploration of how a young girl dealt with going through her normal daily routines while her Mommy was away. It’s hard for a little one to be separated from a parent even if it’s temporary and for a good reason. I thought it was lovely that she felt comfortable sharing her feelings with her Mama, her teacher, and the many other supportive people in her life. That is an excellent way to deal with difficult feelings, and it made me eager to recommend this.

Mama and Mommy and Me in the Middle was a wonderful read.

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

The Magicians of Ysavar by Z.B. Lee

April 29, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Magicians of Ysavar by Z.B. Lee
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Johan Finley dreams of being a warrior for his home, Center City, but he is devastated when his own arrogance costs him his dream. When all seems lost, a cheery little fellow comes knocking on his door. Johan could never expect the fantastic journey that awaits.

There is one problem: Blazer, an enchanted sword, has fallen into the wrong hands. A shadowy enemy seeks to use this powerful weapon to turn the tides in a greater war of good versus evil. Johan must find the strength to face down this sinister foe and take back the sword before it’s too late.

Under the tutelage of a wise magician and a battle-tested knight, along with the friendship of a courageous halfling, Johan is going to learn what it means to be a true hero in the Order of Ysavar. But when the fate of the world rests on his shoulders, will he crack under the pressure? Or will he rise to the occasion?

Sometimes adventure sneaks up on you when you least expect it to.

The world building in this novella was fantastic. It explained everything the reader needed to know clearly while still leaving ample room for a sequel to dive much more deeply into the history of Articus and what the various races in this world thought of each other. These were complex topics that Johan and the audience were just beginning to understand. The author did such a good job of explaining them and showing what life was like for the members of the Order of Ysavar that I felt as though I were walking alongside the characters every step of the way.

I would have liked to see more attention paid to character development, especially when it came to Johan. Other characters mentioned his faults a few times, but there weren’t enough opportunities for the audience to see whether their opinions of Johan were correct or how he grew as a result of his experiences in my opinion. Even a few extra scenes showing this would have been sufficient. This was the only thing holding me back from selecting a five-star rating.

The plot was fast-paced and exciting. I was intrigued by how it explored what happens after someone failed to accomplish a goal in one of the very first scenes. That wasn’t something I’ve seen discussed in quite the same way in most of the fantasy I’ve read, so it immediately piqued my attention. It’s always nice when authors play around with the audience’s expectations and keep us guessing like that. This is all I can say on that topic without sharing spoilers, but do pay close attention if or when the storyline veers away from what you assumed might happen next.

The Magicians of Ysavar made me yearn for more.

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

The Promise Of Annie by T. Lee Garland

April 28, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Promise Of Annie by T. Lee Garland
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Annie is a nurse who promised a dying patient that she would deliver an envelope to the woman’s estranged nephew after her death. Annie intends to keep that promise, even if the nephew is a sexy bar owner who makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with the envelope or her.

Van hasn’t seen his aunt in years. Now that she’s gone, he doesn’t care about her or her damn envelope. Except he does care about the curvy nurse in the cotton-candy pink scrubs that barges into his busy bar on a cold Friday night in Tennessee, and insists that he open the envelope.

A freak ice storm leaves them unexpectedly stranded together. Annie has a secret that she hopes will change Van’s mind and heart about his aunt. Van just knows he wants Annie and the promise of her in his life forever.

Annie had no idea when she promised to fulfil the dying wishes of a patient that it would lead her to a seedy bar and a dangerously good looking man. Van wants nothing to do with his aunt – dead or not – nor is he thrilled with the sexy nurse she sent to deliver a message. Annie, however, is determined to complete her friends dying wish and isn’t willing to take no for an answer.

I found this a refreshing and different style of short story. While the dark, brooding and sexy bar owner meeting the sexy do-good girl is a well loved trope for a reason, I found the tension and small twists to the plotline really intriguing and well handled. This gave the whole story – short as it was – a slightly different outlook and while it still had many of the features of a tried-and-true comfort read, it was new and different enough that I found it really interesting.

Van and Annie’s characters were realistic and fun, but I have to admit there was nothing too unique about them. Readers looking for a comforting kind of read with well-established parameters should find this a lovely and easy sort of read. I was really pleased the chemistry between Van and Annie was a slower sort of burn – not just because that helped them take a bit of time to get to know each other and merge from strangers into sexual partners, but also because Annie was clearly grieving the loss of her friend a few hours ago and it would have felt very odd to me had she jumped right into bed with a complete stranger. That said, the sex was spicy and explicit so readers looking for a steamy read should find this aspect to the story satisfies them.

Fun and a slightly different style of story I really enjoyed this quick read and will happily try more titles by this author.

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

An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher

April 26, 2022 By Leave a Comment


An Honest Lie by Tarryn Fisher
Publisher: Graydon House
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cholla

“I’m going to kill her. You’d better come if you want to save her.”

Lorraine—“Rainy”—lives at the top of Tiger Mountain. Remote, moody, cloistered in pine trees and fog, it’s a sanctuary, a new life. She can hide from the disturbing past she wants to forget.

If she’s allowed to.

When Rainy reluctantly agrees to a girls’ weekend in Vegas, she’s prepared for an exhausting parade of shots and slot machines. But after a wild night, her friend Braithe doesn’t come back to the hotel room.

And then Rainy gets the text message, sent from Braithe’s phone: someone has her. But Rainy is who they really want, and Rainy knows why.

What follows is a twisted, shocking journey on the knife-edge of life and death. If she wants to save Braithe—and herself—the only way is to step back into the past.

Rainy needed a do-over and meeting Grant gave her the chance to redefine herself and her past. In Washington state, living in her exclusive community and hanging out with the wives of Grant’s friends, she’s found a way to move past her history and make a new life. But has she really managed to leave it all behind her? What if her past found her again and refused to let her go?

Rainy is a confident, creative woman, living her dream. She supports herself through her art while living the good life with her partner, Grant. He adores her and she’s happy. I loved her personality and how she maneuvered herself with all the pettiness that often cropped up with the other women around her. I’m not sure I could have contained myself at certain times like she did.

Summer is the one who surprised me. At thirteen, she’s more confident and self-sufficient than I could have ever dreamed of being. This coming from someone who grew up in the era of latch-key kids. As things got crazier and crazier for her, she sucked it up and made choices that would change her life. Her effort to save herself and her mother was the driving force of the past’s narrative and one I could fully support.

I’m a sucker for books set in and around Las Vegas. I’m also an absolute fool for books dealing with cults and/or fundamentalist religion. This book gave me both. Told in alternating timelines, both past and present, the story comes together slowly, piece by piece. That’s not to say that the novel is slow paced, because it’s not. Not even close. From the get-go this book is on the crazy train to the end. Which, if you’ve ever read Tarryn Fisher before, you know is her usual method. I’ve been a fan of the author’s ever since I read The Wives, but this is honestly her best book to date in my opinion.

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

Bright Lights Bound By Darkness by I.M. Savage

April 26, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Bright Lights Bound By Darkness by I.M. Savage
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In a cold universe close to death, humanity’s descendants orbit a black star. Eons ago, they retreated to the collective conscious, an artificial world that provided immortality. Millennia passed without change while people slept a dreamless state, until a distant explosion forced the ship to wake its inhabitants. Only one responded, Jerel. With the ship’s fate resting on her actions, she must choose. Leave the safety of their star, their sole companion in an empty universe, or strike out into the void, to investigate the anomaly. Soon, she suspects a malignant force lurks in wait, attempting to reverse her decision. Is it the ship itself, the collective conscious, or something worse?

Not every choice is an easy one.

Jerel was a well-developed and likeable protagonist. Her reaction to the strange events that happened after she woke up in the first scene was as understandable as how she reacted to even more unbelievable plot twists later on in her tale. I admired her curiosity and stubbornness. She needed both of these character traits and more in order to figure out what was happening on the ship and how she’d ended up there.

There were some minor pacing issues in the beginning due to the focus on world building and plot development. This made for a slower start than I was hoping to see, but once I reached the later scenes my patience was richly rewarded. The author knew exactly where they were going. While I would have liked to see a faster pace during the first thirty pages or so, I was quite pleased with how it all turned out in the end.

Speaking of the ending, it couldn’t have been written better. The foreshadowing for it was subtle but steady. I had an inkling of how it might be tied all together, but I appreciated how much space the audience was given to decide for ourselves which interpretation to believe. This was the perfect choice for both the main character and the odd world she came from.

Bright Lights Bound By Darkness was an exciting adventure.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

Frosty the Snow Dom by Angela Knight

April 25, 2022 By 2 Comments


Frosty the Snow Dom by Angela Knight
Publisher: Changeling Press
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Erotic Romance, Paranormal
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Steaming up the ice…

When ice artist Judith Dane is hired to create a kinky version of Michelangelo’s David, she thinks the ice sculpture is just another Christmas party centerpiece. But when she delivers the work she’s nicknamed “Frosty the Snow Dom” to the BDSM club Valhalla, the party turns out to be a lot stranger than she expects.

When Frosty comes to life just like a certain snowman, she discovers just how hot ice can be. But what happens when the spell breaks?

Hot guy in ice and a hot time for a spell…read this book!

I picked up this book because I wanted something steamy for an afternoon. This doesn’t disappoint. It’s hot, steamy and the writing leaps off the page. Ms. Knight has always been a favorite author of mine and this one was another great story.

Judith thinks she’s making an ice sculpture of Michelangelo’s David, but this isn’t just another ice guy. Oh, no. There’s a ritual, spell and things get heated quickly. I liked the interplay between Judith and the other characters, but especially Tor. He romances her in such a short time that I loved it. I wanted to see what would happen next and rooted for them to be successful.

If you’re looking for something that’s hot, sexy, Christmassy and a little quirky, then this is the story for you!

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox by Carol Burnett

April 21, 2022 By Leave a Comment


In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox by Carol Burnett
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In In Such Good Company, Carol Burnett pulls back the curtain on the twenty-five-time Emmy-Award winning show that made television history, and she reminisces about the outrageously funny and tender moments that made working on the series as much fun as watching it.

Carol delves into little-known stories of the guests, sketches and improvisations that made The Carol Burnett Show legendary, as well as some favorite tales too good not to relive again. While writing this book, Carol re-watched all 276 episodes and screen-grabbed her favorite video stills from the archives to illustrate the chemistry of the actors and the improvisational magic that made the show so successful.

Putting the spotlight on everyone from her costars to the impressive list of guest stars, Carol crafts a lively portrait of the talent and creativity that went into every episode. With characteristic wit and incomparable comic timing, she details hiring Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway; shares anecdotes about guest stars and close friends, including Lucille Ball, Roddy McDowell, Jim Nabors, Bernadette Peters, Betty Grable, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Gloria Swanson, Rita Hayworth, and Betty White; and gives her take on her favorite sketches and the unpredictable moments that took both the cast and viewers by surprise.

So many stories and plenty of pages to tell them!

I love the Carol Burnett show and this book reads a lot like one of those episodes. Carol Burnett writes this about her time on the show and interactions with her costars. There are quite a few tidbits about the actors and actresses and even a few discussions of the bits on the show.

The chemistry between the principals on the show stand out in this book. I felt their love for each other, even when they quarrel. What drew me to this book was the story about Harvey Korman being fired from the show. I had to know more and I’m glad I did. I also had no idea how many people helped bring this show to life. It’s funny, witty and touching. I’m glad I read it.

If you love to laugh and learn about television shows, then this one is for you.

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

Ghost Writer by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

April 21, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Ghost Writer by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime
Romance on the Go
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Alice plans to spend the holidays in a tropical paradise. But her car breaks down en route and she seeks haven in a quaint local hotel.

Trapped forever in his writing room, the ghost formerly known as Clayton Grayson wants only to finish his last novel. His typewriter is still sitting on his desk, a stack of blank white paper beside it.

Alice is the first person who can see anything Clayton Grayson attempts to type. If he’s going to finish his book, he needs to convince her to stay long enough to help him.

The more Alice learns about the author the more she is drawn to him. And as he works with Alice, Clayton realizes he wants more than one last book.

Some stories demand to be told.

The world building was quite well done. In my experience, this can be something that’s overlooked in erotic fiction, so I was thrilled to have such clear descriptions not only of the inn that Alice was reluctantly staying in but of the habits of the people who worked there and how the rumours that the building was haunted affected how guests and employees interacted with certain rooms. Knowing all of this information was critical for understanding later scenes, so I was glad to see how much attention was paid to it.

I would have liked to see more character development in this tale, especially when it came to Clayton. For example, I wish he’d gone into deeper detail about what his life was like when he was alive and how he died. They both seemed to be such important parts of his identity that I was surprised they weren’t explored in depth. This was the only thing holding me back from giving a five-star rating.

The chemistry between Clayton and Alice was perfect. Not only did they have a great deal in common as far as their interests and values went, but their personalities also complemented each other nicely as well. He seemed to be a little more extroverted than she was, and she seemed a bit more diligent than he’d been when he was alive. Their strengths brought out the best in each other as they got to know one another better. I loved these characters as individuals and as a couple.

Ghost Writer was a satisfying read that made me yearn for a sequel.

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

Daddy, Daddy, And Me by Sean Michael

April 20, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Daddy, Daddy, And Me by Sean Michael
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When Jeff agreed to be the sperm donor to his best friend Beth, he never expected a tragedy to leave his newborn and three-year-old motherless. Beth’s loss has totally thrown his life into chaos: his lover has left him, his house isn’t anywhere near childproof, and his boss feels the restaurant has been patient enough with Jeff’s time off.

Donny has always known he wanted to work with kids, and he just finished his degree in early childhood education. He didn’t count on the prejudice he’d face as not only a male nanny, but a gay one at that. Job-hunting has been frustrating to say the least, so when he knocks on Jeff’s door and is greeted by the sounds of things breaking and a pair of screaming children, he thinks maybe he can begin this particular interview with a trial by fire.

Becoming the nanny to Jeff’s children might be a dream come true for Danny and exactly what Jeff needs, but are either of them ready to really be a family?

Jeff agreed to be the sperm donor to his best friend, but never expected for tragedy to strike and for him to be left with full time custody of a newborn and his three year old. Jeff’s lover has left and his boss has had enough of being patient with the time off Jeff frequently needs. When Donny knocks on Jeff’s front door he decides to throw himself into the interview process by simply showing exactly how much he can help Jeff. Can these two men find a balance to family life that works for all four of them?

I really enjoyed this full length story. In many ways I found it a lovely comfort read with all the usual tropes – a very sudden full time dad, two adorable but rambunctious children, the newbie nanny/manny who hadn’t been given a fair shot but fell right in easily with the newly formed family. Readers looking for a story that is really envelope pushing, different or edgy probably won’t find this suits their tastes. Instead I really loved this comforting, easy to read and enjoy story. I found both Jeff and Donny’s characters realistic and gentle, and the two children were adorable. Just a gentle, almost sweet pace to the story really allowed Jeff and Donny’s characters to shine through and for them to build a solid foundation of friendship, trust and family before they explored a more intimate relationship together.

The slow pace to the romance was lovely and I felt it well handled. While there is plenty of steam and sizzle in the bedroom when the men make it there I was pleased they didn’t jump immediately into bed. Much of the plot was easy to guess and see coming from a mile away – but with the strong characters and all the emotions and new family situation needing to be grown into and sorted out I feel there really didn’t need to be complicated plot twists or convoluted story building. The real shine and hero of this story was Jeff and Donny’s characters, and the life and family they were meshing together and growing.

Readers looking for a delightfully written, character centric and gently woven story should find this an exceptional read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will certainly be reading it again in the future.

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

Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers by Kate Wolford

April 19, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers by Kate Wolford
Publisher: World Weaver Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

We remember her best as the generous fairy who dresses Cinderella and handles transportation while she’s at it. But that’s just the most famous fairy godmother’s tale. With a little imagination, you’ll find that fairy godmothers and godfathers appear in many varied forms. The authors in this anthology have crafted new tales that re-imagine the fairy godmother and her role.

A young fairy grapples with imposter syndrome as she takes up her new appointment as godmother. Immortal sisters bestow blessings and curses on princesses as a way to battle the patriarchal fairy godfathers. A struggling artist receives a godmother’s help to impress at her high school reunion. Sparing the life of a moth leads to magical help from an unexpected protector.

Retellings of Pinocchio, Rumpelstiltskin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Frog Prince show the magic of these stories in a whole new light. Infused with modern sensibilities but honoring the tradition of fairy tales, these dozen stories will enchant and inspire you.

Magic is for everyone.

“Face in the Mirror” was one of my favorite stories in this anthology because of how cleverly it reinterpreted Beauty and the Beast. The Beast was just as belligerent and spoiled as he should have been when I first met him, but the real magic happened after the spell was cast upon him and he had to earn the love of someone else in order to break it. I can’t go into much detail about how the later portions of the storyline unfolded, but I was impressed with how much effort Ms. de Soto put into finding a fresh perspective to describe him and his adventures. This could have easily been the first chapter or two of a full-length novel, and yet I was quite satisfied by how everything was resolved at the same time.

I enjoyed every retelling in this book, but there were a small number of them that I did wish had been given more time to develop. “In the Name of Gold” was one of them. A retelling of Rumplestiltskin intrigued me, especially since the author chose such an uncommon narrator for it. I only wish that it had been longer and dove deeper into the themes and characters of this world. There simply wasn’t enough space to show how this retelling was different from the original, and that made it tricky for me to remain as interested as I would have otherwise been.

Fairy godmothers rarely show up in contemporary settings, so “Modern Magic” grabbed my attention as soon as I realized the main character was standing in a Starbucks waiting for her Frappuccino to be made in the first scene. It was such an unusual way to introduce this sort of character, and somehow the plot only became better from there! I loved seeing how a fairy godmother would behave in an urban setting among people who don’t always necessarily believe in magic or that anyone is looking out for them. The heartwarming moments were only surpassed by the surprises that were in store for everyone this protagonist met during an ordinary day of granting wishes and making dreams come true.

Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers was an imaginative anthology that I’d recommend to anyone who loves fairy tale retellings.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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