Ghastly Ghosts by Teresa Bateman

September 29, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Ghastly Ghosts by Teresa Bateman
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Old Dave inherits a lonely old house from his uncle―a nice enough place, if a bit lonely. One cold night he hears a voice: Ghastly ghosts in the old coal shed! At first he tries to ignore it, but he hears it again and again―Ghastly ghosts in the old coal shed! And when the fireplace runs out of coal, Dave has no choice but to brave the dreaded coal shed…and whatever dwells within. But Old Dave’s got an idea that just might work out for him AND the spirits.

Do ghosts make good roommates?

Old Dave’s reaction to the first possible hint that the house he inherited from his uncle made me giggle. Was he scared? Of course not! He could think of a rational explanation for every weird sound an old home might make. This sensible reaction showed off his practical personality so well that I couldn’t wait to get to know him better and see what was really going on behind the creaky scenes of this noisy place.

I adored this story’s approach to creative problem solving. Most people will never live in a haunted house, but all of us have to deal with occasional conflicts with friends, family members, or whoever else is part of our lives. Old Dave demonstrated how to use humor and cooperation to find solutions that not only work for everyone but might actually make everyone’s lives a little better than they were before, too!

Speaking of humor, this was one of the funniest paranormal stories I’ve ever read. The ghosts were friendly enough to appeal to readers of any age, and their interactions with Old Dave only grew more amusing with each repetition of them doing something that he was sure could be explained away without admitting that there might be spirits on his property after all.

Loneliness can be a heavy emotion to deal with, especially when describing it to small children. I appreciated the way Old Dave’s wish for companionship was addressed. He was given time to show why he didn’t particularly enjoy living alone, but everything was explained in ways that would appeal both to preschoolers as well as to any older kids or adults who may give this book a try.

Ghastly Ghosts was a heartwarming tale that included just the right amount of spookiness for the Halloween season.

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

Chasing the Dead: A Western Romance by Keta Diablo

September 24, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Chasing the Dead by Keta Diablo
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical, Paranormal, Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

~1884, New Mexico~

Madrid Arrende has been kidnapped by the Apache. Determined to rescue his daughter, her wealthy father realizes there is only one man capable of bringing her back alive…Deacon Bannister. Deacon doesn’t give one whit about the large sum of money Don Erasmos Arrende has offered him to rescue her. Deacon only cares about bringing the woman he left standing at the altar a year ago home.

A ghost is terrorizing the Apache village and the young maiden, Sacheen, has been banished by her People for unleashing Uday’s wrath. Now, Deacon, Madrid and Sacheen must flee for their lives across the rugged New Mexico landscape with the evil spirit in hot pursuit.

Will they make it back alive to Madrid’s father’s hacienda or will Deacon lose the woman he loves forever?

This novel is a compelling story of two brothers, Deacon and Gideon, who survived the destruction of their ranch and death of their parents years ago at the hands of Apaches, and their two women, Madrid and Sacheen, characters with their own tortured histories. Deacon’s, Gideon’s, and their other brothers’ two sisters are missing, kidnapped, and even after all these years, they intend on finding them. This motivation will drive many of their actions into dangerous territory.

When Madrid, Deacon’s ex-fiancé, gets kidnapped, Deacon’s problems increase severalfold. Their history is sad. They loved each other, but he walked away from her because he needed to concentrate on finding his sisters. However, their mutual feelings continue. Now Deacon must rescue Madrid. Will their love be rekindled?

When Deacon gets captured by the Apaches who hold Madrid, sparks fly between him and his former love. The adventure picks up. Sacheen, an Apache woman, enters the scene. Cultural tidbits are interspersed throughout the story to add depth and understanding. Deacon, Madrid, and Sacheen have a supernatural enemy trying to kill them. How can one defeat such an opponent?

When they go up against this enemy, their lives are put on the line. Gideon comes along to complicate things, and his feelings for Sacheen and hers for him add a nice subplot to the novel. The book is well written with a sense of urgency. Readers of Western romantic paranormals are sure to enjoy this exciting tale.

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The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal

September 16, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal
A Lady Astronaut Novel, Book 3
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The Earth is coming to the boiling point as the climate disaster of the Meteor strike becomes more and more clear, but the political situation is already overheated. Riots and sabotage plague the space program. The IAC’s goal of getting as many people as possible off Earth before it becomes uninhabitable is being threatened.

Elma York is on her way to Mars, but the Moon colony is still being established. Her friend and fellow Lady Astronaut Nicole Wargin is thrilled to be one of those pioneer settlers, using her considerable flight and political skills to keep the program on track. But she is less happy that her husband, the Governor of Kansas, is considering a run for President.

Women on the moon. What a radical idea.

I’ve not read a lot of sci-fi/fantasy books, but I do love a good story about space. When I saw this version of the space race where everyone worked together and women were at the head of the program, I had to know more. This is book three in a series and it probably would’ve helped to get the first two read before reading this one. The format is still readable, but it would’ve made more sense to know what was going on. Still, I had to read it.

I have to say I wasn’t a fan of the heroine, Nicole. She’s a hard nut to crack. First, she’s extremely smart, which is good for a heroine. I liked that she could hold her own with her male counterparts. She’s tough and forthright, which was refreshing. But…she’s neurotic. I mean, she’s got anorexia, which is relatable, but it also made me wonder about her in space. If she’s not wanting to eat because of the disorder while she’s on Earth, wouldn’t it be dangerous for her to not eat while in space? Wouldn’t it make doing her job harder? Seemed like it might. And she’s convinced everyone is out to get her. Maybe they are, but maybe they aren’t.

There is also a nasty habit of using a lot of anachronisms for things and getting into heavy technical descriptions in this book. If I were reading a non-fiction book, then this wouldn’t have been as much of a problem. But being it’s a piece of fiction, it took away from my enjoyment of the story. I got bogged down trying to remember what each set of letters stood for and sometimes got lost in the descriptions. I want a book to pull me into their world. Sometimes, this didn’t feel like the case.

This is also a long book. It’s over five hundred pages. There is a bit of slogging to get through it. Now, to be fair, if I’d read the other books in the series, this might have made this book a bit less cumbersome. I might have known the characters better and felt more like they were people. So I suggest reading the first two first.

Still, this is an interesting telling of the space race with women in charge. The Earth is losing it’s battle, the USA is losing pieces and the human race needs to find somewhere else to live. It’s quite fascinating. If you’re looking for a book that’s going to take a while to read, but will be worth it, especially if you’re a space fan, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Other, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Flapper’s Baby Scandal by Lauri Robinson

September 11, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Flapper’s Baby Scandal by Lauri Robinson
Sisters of the Roaring Twenties, book 2
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Historical, Romance
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Her undercover life…

Her secret child

Dancing in speakeasies at night is dutiful heiress Betty Dryer’s only escape from her father’s tyrannical control and marriage plans. There she meets mysterious FBI agent Henry Randall. Drawn into his investigation—and to emotionally scarred, lone-wolf Henry himself—Betty gives in to her desire, believing this could be her only chance at love before she’s forced to wed. Until she discovers she’s pregnant with Henry’s baby!

I have been looking forward to this book since I finished reading the first one in this series. I am pleased to share that I equally enjoyed The Flapper’s Baby Scandal and now I’m eager to read the third in the series when it becomes available. So far, each can be read as a standalone.

This time it was Betty’s turn to discover her happily ever after. Her love match was Henry Randall and together they made for an entertaining read. Henry didn’t make my book boyfriend list but he was perfect for Betty. Henry had multiple personal inner issues to contend with but nothing that Betty couldn’t handle. Betty’s conflict was her father. While I found all the characters to be well developed and relatable, I continue to dislike Betty’s father, Mr. Dryer, as much as I did in the first book. I totally understand how necessary it is for him to be written the way he is, but I’m still hoping his demeanor will soften by the end of the series. Because their love is the strongest element, I enjoyed the chemistry between Henry and Betty, regardless of the sour note Mr. Dryer brings to the plot.

I actually read this book on an airplane. I was on my way to move my youngest child into his dorm room. I had a lot of anxiety over wearing a facial mask on the plane and the anticipation of saying goodbye to my son until Thanksgiving. The Flapper’s Baby Scandal successfully distracted my churning thoughts.

I’m a Lauri Robinson fan so I’m biased about her novels. I have yet to be disappointed. It’s very easy for me to recommend this book.

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

The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel

September 10, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

As America’s Mercury Seven astronauts were launched on death-defying missions, television cameras focused on the brave smiles of their young wives. Overnight, these women were transformed from military spouses into American royalty. They had tea with Jackie Kennedy, appeared on the cover of Life magazine, and quickly grew into fashion icons.

Annie Glenn, with her picture-perfect marriage, was the envy of the other wives; JFK made it clear that platinum-blonde Rene Carpenter was his favorite; and licensed pilot Trudy Cooper arrived with a secret that needed to stay hidden from NASA. Together with the other wives they formed the Astronaut Wives Club, providing one another with support and friendship, coffee and cocktails.

As their celebrity rose-and as divorce and tragedy began to touch their lives-the wives continued to rally together, forming bonds that would withstand the test of time, and they have stayed friends for over half a century. THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB tells the story of the women who stood beside some of the biggest heroes in American history.

You’ve heard about the astronauts, but have you heard about the wives?

For these women, being a wife wasn’t the half of it. It wasn’t the hardest part, either. I’ve read the books about the astronauts. There’s an immeasurable amount of testosterone going on there. What else would one expect? They’re test pilots. But the wives. Now there’s something interesting that I hadn’t learned. The writing is crisp, but can be choppy at times, but the story is good.

Each woman is different and had her own set of challenges. If you don’t know the women, this is a great way to get to know them. I knew almost nothing about Michael Collins’ wife, nearly nothing about Louise Sheppard, Joan Aldrin…The only reason I remember Annie Glenn having a stutter was that John Glenn was our state senator forever and I remember seeing her on television. I respected each of the wives more and liked how they banded together. Marge Slayton become the mother of the group. Everyone rallied around the See, Basset, Chaffee, White and Grissom families. It’s touching, heartbreaking and interesting.

If you want a book about the unsung heroes behind the astronauts, then this is the one for you to check out. Read it.

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

Always, Almond Fudge by Charlotte O’Shay

September 3, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Always, Almond Fudge by Charlotte O’Shay
One Scoop or Two
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romance, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

On a lengthy car ride to their annual seaside vacation, a mother recounts the true story of a sweet family tradition.

It’s the summer of 1941 in the seaside town of Langford, Rhode Island, and seventeen-year-old Meredith Franklin works as a server at Seymore’s Ice Cream Shoppe.

When aspiring baseball player Anthony Fanelli strolls into the ice cream shop, his teasing banter leads to romantic sparks and dreams of forever love.

Their whirlwind courtship comes to an abrupt halt on December 7, 1941, when America enters World War Two, forcing the couple to put their future on hold.

Decades later, a treasure trove of wartime letters details the romance of Merry and Anthony and the sacrifices of a generation.

Some traditions have beautiful origins.

Is it nature or nurture that leads certain traits to be passed down in families for generations? This is a question I love discussing, and there were plenty of opportunities to think about it here. The contemporary narrator was someone who’d never known much about his great-grandparents at all, and yet he shared so many surprising things in common with them. I really liked the process of comparing his personality and interests to what his ancestors were like nearly eighty years ago.

As much as I enjoyed getting to know Meredith and Anthony through their great-grandson Sebastian’s eyes, I sure would have liked to have more information about what their lives were like during and after World War II. Both of these characters had experiences that were pretty uncommon in the 1940s, so it would have been neat to read more details about their accomplishments and how they achieved them.

The chemistry between Anthony and Meredith was lovely, especially when considering how little time passed between their first meeting and when they both realized they were falling in love. I was impressed with Ms. O’Shay’s attention to detail in these early scenes. She really sold me on the idea of these characters falling in love almost at first sight.

This is part of the One Scoop or Two series, but it works perfectly well as a standalone story.

Always, Almond Fudge should be read by anyone who is in the mood for something sweet and lighthearted.

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

Blood and Gold by Anne Rice

August 28, 2020 By Leave a Comment


Blood and Gold by Anne Rice
The Vampire Chronicles, Book 8
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

The Vampire Chronicles continue with Anne Rice’s spellbinding new novel, in which the great vampire Marius returns.

The golden-haired Marius, true Child of the Millennia, once mentor to The Vampire Lestat, always and forever the conscientious foe of the Evil Doer, reveals in his own intense yet intimate voice the secrets of his two-thousand-year existence.

Once a proud Senator in Imperial Rome, kidnapped and made a “blood god” by the Druids, Marius becomes the embittered protector of Akasha and Enkil, Queen and King of the vampires, in whom the core of the supernatural race resides.

We follow him through his heartbreaking abandonment of the vampire Pandora. Through him we see the fall of pagan Rome to the Emperor Constantine and the horrific sack of the Eternal City itself at the hands of the Visigoths.

Bravely, Marius seeks a new civilization in the midst of glittering Constantinople, only to meet with the blood drinker Eudoxia. We see him ultimately returning to his beloved Italy, where after the horrors of the Black Death, he is restored by the beauty of the Renaissance. We see him become a painter living dangerously
yet happily among mortals, giving his heart to the great Botticelli, to the bewitching courtesan Bianca, and to the mysterious young apprentice Armand.

Moving from Rome to Florence, Venice, and Dresden, and to the English castle of the secret scholarly order of the Talamasca, the novel reaches its dramatic finale in our own time, deep in the jungle where Marius, having told his life story, seeks some measure of justice from the oldest vampires in the world.

Marius finally gets his story! I’m stoked.

Once I read about Lestat and the Queen of the Damned, I knew I wanted to read about Marius. The man seemed to complicated and he is. I loved that he’s all about art and chasing his passions. I loved that he’s a passionate man. But I wondered often if he needed to many pages. This one tops out at over five hundred. There were times when the story seemed slow and the pacing off. Like I’d been told the same things over, just from another perspective. Sadly, I did have to put this one down a few times before I finished it. He has one heck of a long trip and the longevity of the vampires is definitely shown. I wanted him to find his heart’s delight and rooted for him to do so.

Marius isn’t a perfect character. He’s cruel, passionate, demands what he wants and doesn’t always care who he hurts. But isn’t that just like a vampire? This book is filled with sadness and can be hard to get through. If you’ve read others in the Vampire Chronicles series, then you’ll know much of this story to start. But don’t let that deter you. This is still an interesting book and Marius deserved his tale.

If you’re looking for a book that’s equal parts sad and complicated, but hopeful and beautiful, then this might be the one for you.

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

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

August 25, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
(Chester Cricket and His Friends #1)
Publisher: Square Fish
Genre: Historical, Fiction, Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

One night, the sounds of New York City–the rumbling of subway trains, thrumming of automobile tires, hooting of horns, howling of brakes, and the babbling of voices–is interrupted by a sound that even Tucker Mouse, a jaded inhabitant of Times Square, has never heard before. Mario, the son of Mama and Papa Bellini, proprietors of the subway-station newsstand, had only heard the sound once. What was this new, strangely musical chirping? None other than the mellifluous leg-rubbing of the somewhat disoriented Chester Cricket from Connecticut. Attracted by the irresistible smell of liverwurst, Chester had foolishly jumped into the picnic basket of some unsuspecting New Yorkers on a junket to the country. Despite the insect’s worst intentions, he ends up in a pile of dirt in Times Square.

Mario is elated to find Chester. He begs his parents to let him keep the shiny insect in the newsstand, assuring his bug-fearing mother that crickets are harmless, maybe even good luck. What ensues is an altogether captivating spin on the city mouse/country mouse story, as Chester adjusts to the bustle of the big city. Despite the cricket’s comfortable matchbox bed (with Kleenex sheets); the fancy, seven-tiered pagoda cricket cage from Sai Fong’s novelty shop; tasty mulberry leaves; the jolly company of Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat; and even his new-found fame as “the most famous musician in New York City,” Chester begins to miss his peaceful life in the Connecticut countryside.

A small cricket is about to make a big impact!

Chester had no idea his life was about to change the day he hopped into a picnic basket. When he wakes up in a subway station in New York City, he’s understandably confused and frightened. Things could have easily gone back for a small cricket in such a big city. Fortunately, the first inhabitant of New York that Chester meets is a young boy named Mario. The meeting will change both their lives forever.

Chester is a wonderful character. He’s kind and honorable. When he makes some mistakes that could cost the Bellini family dearly, Chester doesn’t run away. He stays and faces the consequences. With the help of his friends, Tucker and Harry, he finds a way to make it up to them by utilizing a rather incredible ability! I won’t spoil the story by revealing what Chester’s special talent is, but I will say that Chester’s talent soon attracts throngs of people to the newsstand! As much as Chester enjoys life in the city helping the Bellinis, he realizes he has to be true to himself and makes a very tough decision

Tucker Mouse and Harry Cat are great friends for Chester. Tucker can be selfish and greedy at times, but he has a good heart and, with a small nudge from Harry, Tucker always does the right thing. I loved watching them help Chester acclimate to city life. Their little dinner parties are especially entertaining!

I will say the portrayal of Sai Fong, a Chinese man who helps Mario learn about caring for Chester, is a bit problematic in that his dialogue and actions are stereotypical despite his otherwise positive character traits. Mario’s Italian mother also comes across in a stereotypical way at times as well. However, I think this book is worth reading, and these characters could prompt a discussion about stereotypes with children.

I had so much fun reading this tale with my children! The ending is bittersweet and satisfying while still leaving the door open for the next story. While I recommend this novel for ages 8-12, it can easily be read to children a bit younger. I look forward to reading the next installment in the series!

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

The Mermaids Melt at Dawn by Grendolyn Peach Soleil

August 24, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Mermaids Melt at Dawn by Grendolyn Peach Soleil
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The Mermaids Melt at Dawn is a dark fairy tale from the bayou with a merfolk twist, but it is not a fairy tale for children. It is a genre-bending journey for adults and an homage to fairy tales and mythology of old.

Meet Rok, a rowdy Cajun, who hunts monsters in the swampland. From the cradle, Rok remembers hearing the legend of Barbiche Island where mermaids surf the seas and grant the wishes of a few lucky men. While it may appear to be an innocent story about childhood dreams, the swamp hags and sea witches of old remind us that appearances can be deceiving.

Each yarn dives deeper into the supernatural where mysteries abound and strange things happen. Rok’s obsession with Barbiche Island steers him on a nautical adventure where he battles the most powerful mermaid, but Rok is not the only creature with a story to tell. Barbiche Island is home to a pair of warring mermaid sisters, power-hungry Poseidon, petulant gods, and other mysterious monsters. The mermaids of Barbiche Island sing of love, survival, and betrayal, but will they answer the burning question? Why do the mermaids melt at dawn?

This fairy tale is for adult eyes only.

Rok’s character development was handled marvelously. There were times when I shook my head at the ways he described the mistakes he’d made in life. He had a knack for talking his way around them without addressing the matter head on, especially when it came to his unwillingness to take full responsibility for his choices. I was as fascinated by this slippery part of his personality as I would have been exasperated by it in real life. Having such an important and realistic flaw made Rok someone I always wanted to know more about no matter how much had already been revealed about him. He couldn’t have been written better.

Some portions of the storyline were narrated by characters other than Rok. As much as I enjoyed hearing from them, I would have preferred to stick with one narrator due to the fact that there were less than seventy pages in total to work with. There was simply so much material to work with that needing to jump between narrators was a little confusing for me at times even though I loved everything else about this tale.

The world building was so intricate that I actually stopped reading a few pages into it to see if I’d accidentally stumbled into the middle of a series. Learning that it was, indeed, a standalone work only endeared me to it more. I already knew I loved Ms. Soleil’s writing style from my previous experience with it. Seeing how skilled she is at creating worlds every bit as believable and complex as our only makes me more eager to see what she comes up with next.

The Mermaids Melt at Dawn was an engrossing read that I highly recommend.

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

The Apprentice by Pilar Molina Llorente

August 21, 2020 By Leave a Comment


The Apprentice by Pilar Molina Llorente
Publisher: Square Fish
Genre: Historical, Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Fiction
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

In Renaissance Florence, thirteen-year-old apprentice Arduino’s dreams of being a painter are challenged after he discovers the extreme measures the Maestro Cosimo di Forlç will take in the name of jealousy. Arduino faces a decision that could cost him his only chance to realize his life’s dream.

Arduino’s dream is finally within reach.

Arduino comes from a family of very successful tailors. While Arduino’s father and brothers enjoy their work, Arduino dreams of taking a different path. He dreams of becoming a painter. Arduino comes from a happy home, and I love seeing healthy families represented in children and young adult books. Consequently, Arduino isn’t pursuing a dream of becoming an artist as a way to escape from home. He’s doing it because it is his passion. Despite his reluctance to disappoint his father, Arduino’s restlessness radiates off the pages. Arduino knows that becoming a painter will not be easy, but his heart is set on it. Even though his father disapproves, he arranges an apprenticeship for Arduino with Cosimo di Forli. Unfortunately, the apprenticeship is nothing like Arduino imagined.

I felt so sorry for Arduino. Cosimo is always in a foul mood and doesn’t teach Arduino anything. Instead, Arduino’s time is consumed with doing menial tasks and chores. As if that weren’t bad enough, the food is terrible, and there isn’t even room for Arduino in the bedroom with the other apprentices. I admire Arduino for putting up with it all. He has a good heart and is truly dedicated to his dream of becoming a painter. Everything changes when Arduino discovers Cosimo has a terrible secret. Arduino has a tough decision to make. Will he reveal what Cosimo has done even if it means the end of his apprenticeship, or can he find a way to do what is right and hold on to his dream?

The Apprentice is an intriguing and fast paced story. As I read with my children, they were so wrapped up in Arduino’s story that at the end of each chapter they would beg me to read more! In addition to being an engaging story, Ms. Llorente provides historical information concerning life and social customs during the Renaissance, life as an apprentice, and even a bit on the differences in the situations of men and women. All of this information is smoothly incorporated into the story so it doesn’t feel forced or slow the pacing of the story.

I enjoyed reading The Apprentice. Arduino’s story is captivating, and the ending is absolutely wonderful! Fans of children’s historical fiction would do well to give this story a try.

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