*Review* Everyone Gets a Turn by Marianne Dubuc

 Genre: Children's 3-6 years

Published: March 5, 2024

Pages: 60

A lovely and heartwarming illustrated children’s book about friendship, taking turns, and caring for one another by award-winning author Marianne Dubuc.

Beloved children's book author and illustrator Marianne Dubuc chronicles the adventure and collaboration that ensues when four animal friends take turns caring for a precious little egg they find in the woods.

Enter the beautifully illustrated world of Bear, Hare, Turtle, and Mouse. In Dubuc's signature soft and inviting watercolor scenes, these forest friends make an unexpected discovery and turn to each other to find a shared solution. They decide they each will have a turn caring for the egg in their homes.

Mouse's house is chilly, so a cozy fire is set ablaze in the fireplace. At Bear's house, exercise and activity rule the day, and Little Egg hatches out of her shell! The next stop is Hare's house, where Bear and Hare dote over the newborn chick and face a new challenge: trying to find something for her to eat! Finally, it's on to Turtle's house for a special time exploring Turtle's treasures and sharing stories.

An endearing picture book that celebrates friendship and encourages young readers to share and trust in the power of community and their own resourcefulness, Everyone Gets a Turn is a wonderful read-aloud book for children with a timeless message.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a cute story about four animal friends that find a mysterious egg and they decide that they absolutely must take turns taking care of the egg to protect it, both before and after it hatches. When the egg does finally hatch, they have a new bird friend who wants to have its own home, insisting it doesn't need the same amount of protection anymore. 

I liked the way the animals in this story worked together to figure out a solution to the problem they encountered, and they worked well together to protect the egg. I'd definitely be okay reading this book a few times, but I wouldn't want to read it every day for a month. The illustrations were soft and wispy feeling. 

Overall I give Everyone Gets a Turn 3.8957 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Marianne Dubuc is an award-winning writer and illustrator living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She is the author/illustrator of more than twenty children’s books, including Bear and the Whisper of the Wind, Up the Mountain Path, Otto and Pio, and Little Cheetah's Shadow.

*Review* A Year at Marshywood by Marina McLune

 Genre: Historical Romance

Published: March 26, 2023

Pages: 351

It’s 1979 and Amanda Fernsby, nineteen and inexperienced, dreams of lasting love. She leaves London with her parents to start a new life in rural Sussex, moving into Marshywood, a charming, rustic cottage. Now, surrounded by nature, she is excited to begin her new life, but there are bumps in the road ahead.

What about Samantha, her closest friend, who she’s going to miss? And then, of course, there’s Mark, Sam’s gorgeous cousin, who, frustratingly, she’s only just met. Being miles apart, what chance do they have now? Will she find another job? And, perhaps Amanda’s biggest worry of all, does life in the countryside limit her opportunities for finding true love?

When Sam and Mark visit in the summer, a series of shocking events begin to unfold and Amanda finds herself on an emotional roller-coaster with all her hopes unravelling. What will the future hold for her now? Has her parents’ gamble to pursue the rural dream created more losers than winners, or will there still be a pathway to happiness?

Delve deep into the beauty of the natural world and get lost in the music and culture of days gone by in this refreshingly different and moving debut novel. Uplifting, real and straight from the heart, it will take you along an entertaining journey which has the potential to stay with you for years to come.

I received an audiobook version of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This story had a bit of an Under the Tuscan Sun feeling to it, but only in the choosing slower rural life over the city rat race kind of way. Sadly, it didn't really transport me to the countryside like I had hoped it would. 

I found myself getting annoyed by Amanda, and I'm not even really sure what exactly about her personality was rubbing me the wrong way, but I just did not like her at all. And realistically I should have related to her, but I really just wanted to smack her for most of the story. 

The narration was fine, but the opposite gendered voices were a little lacking for me. They felt a bit like caricatures, and I hate that in an audiobook. 

Overall I give A Year At Marshywood 2.0733 out of 5 stars. - Katie

Amazon

Marina has been passionate about music and creative writing since childhood. British-born to Caribbean parents and a solicitor by profession, she left London to move to East Sussex several years ago and is now blessed to live at the foot of the beautiful South Downs National Park, where she enjoys nature and walks with her husband and three grown-up sons.

*Review* Addie Ant Goes on an Adventure by Maren Morris and Karina Argow

 Genre: Children's 2-5 years

Published: April 9, 2024

Pages: 40

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Maren Morris and former schoolteacher Karina Argow have together written their picture-book debut, Addie Ant Goes on an Adventure. This delightful story of one little ant’s journey for independence while realizing when to ask for help, is set against the backdrop of a vast and abundant garden inhabited by some very helpful insect friends.

Addie Ant travels from one garden bed to another on her first solo adventure. As she forges her own path, she gets lost along the way and finds help from her trusted garden pals, Lewis Ladybug, Beatrix Butterfly, and Cleo Cricket, in finding her way back home.
 
A celebration of friendship, this sweet book is a collaboration by renowned, musical artist Maren Morris and former schoolteacher and close friend Karina Argow. Artist Kelly Anne Dalton brings the delightfully written characters to life with colorful and charming illustrations.
 
Join Addie Ant in a vast and magical garden adventure full of insect friends, growing vegetables, blooming flowers, and the inspiring abundance of nature.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a fun story about a young ant who wants to visit the watermelon bed in the garden where she lives. Her friends and family are against the adventure at first because she is still young and it's a long way to the watermelon bed (for an ant at least). But Addie goes anyway, and things don't go exactly as planned. Luckily she has friends throughout the garden who help her get back home. 

I have mixed feelings about the messages of this book, because I want my children to listen to me when I clearly know better than they do, but at the same time, I know I do eventually have to let them be their own people (they're both teenagers now and I think I've mostly succeeded at letting them be their own people, but when they were younger it was so hard). I just think there's the potential for that messaging to cause problems for parents of younger children. But I'd be okay reading this book a few times because it really is important for us to let our children have some autonomy and make mistakes. It's how they're going to learn. The illustrations were very bold and colorful. 

Overall I give Addie Ant Goes on an Adventure 4.1957 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Maren Morris is a celebrated singer-songwriter, CEO, and Texan. She is the recipient of many top music awards including five Country Music Association Awards, five Academy of Country Music Awards, and one Grammy Award. She has had several Billboard hit singles at the top of the charts including “My Church” and “The Bones” to name just a few. Her crossover, international hit “The Middle” is officially six times Platinum-certified. Additionally, Morris is a leading voice in country music for change and equality in the music industry. She and her son, Hayes, reside in Nashville, Tennessee.

Karina Argow is a former high school English teacher and department chairperson. Her love of teaching and writing, coupled with her passion for gardening, inspired her to collaborate with close friend Maren Morris on their first children’s book. Karina lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her partner, Jonathan, and can be found most days wandering through her garden beds talking to the bugs that buzz around them.
 
Kelly Anne Dalton is an artist and storyteller living in the wild mountains of Montana. Her illustrations can be found on children’s books, greeting cards, fabric, home decor collections, and a range of items for the gift market. 

*Review* Beauty Reborn by Elizabeth Lowham

 

Genre: Fairytale Retelling

Published: May 9, 2023

Pages: 178

Fantasy and reality collide in this retelling of “Beauty and the Beast” about a young woman’s heroic quest to save herself.

Beauty’s life is the stuff of fairy tales. The youngest in her family, Beauty isn’t trying to catch Stephan’s eye. He is the lord baron’s heir, well above her family’s modest station, but when he kisses her hand at a party, Beauty is swept away by his charm, his wit, and his passionate declarations of love.

Hearts can be untamable creatures, especially when touched by the fires of first love, and Beauty doesn’t see the truth of Stephan’s intentions until it is too late. Until he stops asking for Beauty’s love—and simply takes it from her one night despite her refusal.

Beauty locks away the secret of what happened to her, and when her father emerges from the enchanted forest with a stolen rose in his hand and the tale of a vicious beast on his breath, Beauty seizes the chance to run as far from Stephan as possible.

She has some experience with beasts, after all. Certainly the one in the forest couldn’t be any worse than the one she’s already encountered.

Breaking the Beast’s curse might be the key to discovering her own path to healing—and finding the courage to allow herself to feel reborn.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a fairly realistic retelling of Beauty and the Beast that read more like straight historical fiction. I really liked how Beauty volunteers to go to the Beast's castle as an escape from what was done to her rather than to save her hapless father from the clutches of the Beast like in the Disney version. It makes sense to me that she'd choose that for herself. 

I pretty much flew through the story once I started because I was immediately invested and wanted to know what was going to happen next. Overall this was a quick, easy read with enough references and similarities to the original to keep me reading, but enough differences to keep it from feeling stale. 

Overall I give Beauty Reborn 4.9732 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Elizabeth Lowham's hobbies include sewing, sketching, dancing, eating, and other -ing verbs. Plus yoga. She has a bachelor of arts in English and works as an author, editor, and screenwriter. She is a sexual abuse survivor who believes stories have a unique power to lift and heal for author and reader alike. She lives with her husband and son in the Loveland area of Colorado.

*Review* Alycat and the Sunday Scaries by Alysson Foti Bourque

 

Genre: Children's 5-8 years

Published: March 18, 2024

Pages: 32

It's Sunday, the day before the school week begins, and Alycat is nervous. She just knows that Monday is going to be the Mondayest Monday ever! On the playground, Alycat realizes she isn't the only one suffering from the Sunday Scaries. It's hard to ride a bike. What if Kit falls? The treehouse is so high. Will Spotty make it safely back down? The kittens band together to overcome their fears, but can they turn the Sunday Scaries into a Sunday Funday? The themes of the books in the Alycat Series all reflect a reliance on friendships, imagination, and creativity towards problem solving. Fans of Alycat and her friends will enjoy spotting references to the kittens' daily adventures within these pages. Tips for a successful lemonade stand are included!

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This was a cute story about a group of kittens that are playing with each other. There are a few scary scenarios that they help each other out of, and then they reassure Alycat that Monday is also not so scary either, just like she helped some of her other friends realize the things they were afraid of weren't so bad. As an adult, I don't fully buy into the idea that Monday isn't scary, because Monday means the start of a new workweek, and that's terrifying!

I would have no problem reading this book several times, because it was just a really fun read for me, and it features cats which are obviously the best pet ever. The message about things not always being as scary as they seem is also a pretty good one to impart on kids. The illustrations were very colorful and bold. 

Overall I give Alycat and the Sunday Scaries 4.2947 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Award-winning author Alysson Foti Bourque is a certified elementary education teacher, attorney, and founder of Foreword Publicity. Her books featuring Alycat have been recipients of the NYC Big Book Award, the Mom's Choice Awards, and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; have been featured in Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly; and have appeared in the Oscars Swag Bag and the Grammy Awards gift bag. Find Alys s on and Alycat online at

*Top Ten Tuesday* Things Characters Have Said

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Joood - Hooligan of Platypire reviews bossed me into doing this, so I guess this is a thing I do now. 

This week’s theme is things characters have said. This is a horrible topic for me, because I don't typically highlight quotes in books, even when I'm reading on my Kindle, and the few times I have, I don't remember what books I highlighted, so I can't just easily go back and find some things I actually have highlighted. But, this past Saturday I went to a book faire and a local brewery and bought several new books, so I'm going to feature some quotes from my new books. They will likely not be at all profound, because I'm literally turning to a random page and picking a line or two to quote. Let's go. 

"When she gets engaged, she gets celebratory, and buys all her friends classy meals and takes us shopping." - page 124

Quaint Creatures: Magical & Mundane by Andrew D Meredith

"I always have damned sand in my hair." - page 315

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco

(This was a blind date with a book purchase, so I did not meet Rin Chupeco.)

"Seriously, he wants you to ignore fireworks for a book?" - page 184

Jingle in July by H.N. DeFore

"Well, let's see what she has in store for us this time." - page 82

Witch, Please by Mandy Maree and LJ Burkhart

"Prince, I cannot have other people touching my things." page 66

Song of the Deep by C.H. Lyn

"I'm just wondering where he might be staying." - page 264

Unborn Rising by Tracey Barski

(I did not meet Tracey, but this book is part of a duology where the other book is written by C.H. Lyn, whom I did meet.)

"I would ask that you tell those you know of our service and cordiality." - page 313

Deathless Beast by Andrew D. Meredith

(I bought all four books in this series.)

"What are you going to do when I cut my hair?" - pages 61

Spooky Cat Stories by C.H. Lyn

"And your state champions in the advanced pairs argumentation division: from Braselton Preparatory Academy, Justyce McAllister and Sarah-Jane Friedman!" - page 81

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

(This was another blind date with a book and I did not meet Nic Stone.)

"I had just arrived and...it was...I was not at my best." - page 144

Hope and Lies by C.H. Lyn

You may notice that some of the authors were featured more than once, and that's because I bought from more than one series they write, and they were billed as different genres. I also simply did not buy books from 10 different authors at the event, or I wouldn't have doubled up on any of them. Did any of my very randomly selected quotes make you want to read any of these books? 

What are some of your favorite quotes from literature? If you're stopping by from the linkup, please be sure to drop a link to your post below so I can return the visit when I have time. - Katie 

*Review* Santa Overboard by Carolyn McBride

 

Genre: Holiday Romance

Published: September 24, 2024

Pages: 214

‘Twas the night before Cruisemas…

Katie Young is embracing her new life in a charming riverfront town in Virginia. With her devoted friends, the Beach Bonfire Babes, a budding romance with a swoon-worthy scientist, and her college-age daughter baking up holiday traditions in their cozy river house, the season promises to make up for past struggles.

As captain of the town’s Christmas boat parade, Katie can’t wait to ferry Santa to the dock on her new boat. But when plans go off course and Santa takes an unexpected dip, Katie and her trusty crew navigate the stormy seas of midlife in the best way they know how—with their favorite foods, a cocktail or two, and a dash of holiday magic.

Brimming with laughter, the natural beauty of the Potomac Shores, and yummy holiday recipes, Santa Overboard is a quick read that delivers the perfect Christmas gift: a second chance at a forever love.

For the backstory on Katie and the Beach Bonfire Babes, check out Carolyn McBride’s The Cicada Spring, the first book in her Potomac Shores series.

I received the audiobook version of this through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

I was looking for a short, quick holiday read, and on that score, this book delivered. It did not give me any serious holiday magic though, so it really just felt like a book set around the holidays rather than a holiday book. 

One of my big issues with this book is Katie. on the surface, she's fine, but for being a whole adult in her peak mid-life crisis years, she acts like the world revolves around her at times, and she should've grown out of that by now. For instance, she basically decides her current relationship should be over because her middle-aged divorced boyfriend tells her he will be away over the holiday, like he does every year because his kids spend the holiday with his ex, and she immediately interprets that as he doesn't want to spend that time with her. Like grow up lady. 

The narration was pleasant enough and I didn't find myself bothered by the opposite gendered voices. 

Overall I give Santa Overboard 2.1974 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Carolyn McBride, a seasoned boater, has always been drawn to the water, and Virginia’s Potomac River is the stunning backdrop in her Potomac Shores series. Like Carolyn, her characters are grandmothers, mothers, wives, daughters, friends, pet lovers...and boat captains. Her holiday novella, Santa Overboard, is told through the eyes of a female boat captain as she restores her inner compass on a rollicking yet poignant cruise of second chances. The first book in the series, The Cicada Spring, is a poignant and heartwarming novel for women who are ready to rewrite their own stories and discover the strength that lies within.

Carolyn writes about the places she lives and loves, from South Florida's Intracoastal Waterway to Virginia’s Occoquan River. A former editor and columnist for National Geographic Traveler and graduate of the College of William and Mary, she is completing an MFA in fiction writing.

*Review* The Taekwonderoos: Rescue at Rattling Ridge by Michael Panzner

 Genre: Children's 3-8 years

Published: November 10, 2023

Pages: 40

Come Join the Adventure!

Hop into an action-packed adventure with George, Brianna and Jackson, kangaroo friends who are masters of taekwondo. When they spot a frightened joey trapped at the top of treacherous Rattling Ridge, the three Taekwonderoos spring into action, using their kicking, jumping and spinning skills to navigate cliffs, boulders and ravines on a daring rescue mission. This thrilling tale of bravery celebrates how courage, quick-thinking, and teamwork can overcome any challenge.

Purple Dragonfly Book Award (Honorable Mention), Picture Books 6 & Older

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review. 

This is a story about kangaroos that are martial arts experts, and they find themselves needing to rescue a joey from a very high bluff. The danger seemed somewhat unrealistic to me, and their solutions to the problem seemed absurd. I think I would struggle to read this book more than a couple times because it just didn't seem realistic enough to me. 

The illustrations were very solid and colorful. Overall I give The Taekwonderoos: Rescue at Rattling Ridge 3.0286 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Michael Panzner is a long-time freelance writer who's always been a child at heart. Inspired by the countless stories he's shared with his children and grandchildren, Michael crafts tales designed to entertain, spark the imagination, and instill values like kindness, courage, empathy and perseverance. Having lived and worked in various locales, including the U.S. Northeast, North Carolina, and London, England, Michael now resides in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, Catherine.

Lora Look is an illustrator with a master's degree in fine art. She has dedicated 12 years of training (art school, college, university) to having the skills necessary to create beautiful illustrations and achieve the best results for her authors. When she draws, she imagines children with family or friends flipping through the pages of a book, looking at the pictures, and immersing themselves in the magical world of colors and words. She hopes she makes the world a better place.

*Review* The Midnight Club by Christopher Pike

 

Genre: YA Horror

Published: September 20, 2022

Pages: 223

From the author of The Wicked Heart and The Immortal comes a beautiful and haunting novel about a group of five terminally ill teenagers whose midnight stories become their reality.

Rotterham Home was a hospice for young people—a place where teenagers with terminal illnesses went to die. Nobody who checked in ever checked out. It was a place of pain and sorrow, but also, remarkably, a place of humor and adventure.

Every night at twelve, a group of young guys and girls at the hospice came together to tell stories. They called themselves the Midnight Club, and their stories could be true or false, inspiring or depressing, or somewhere in-between.

One night, in the middle of a particularly scary story, the teenagers make a secret pact with each other, which says, “The first one who dies will do whatever he or she can do to contact us from beyond the grave, to give us proof that there is life after death.”

Then one of them does die...

I borrowed the audiobook of this from my library. This is my honest review. 

I wish I'd read the book before watching the series on Netflix. While significant changes were made for the series, I feel like they enhance the story and helped it to feel more cohesive. But being familiar with the series made that my expectation. So I really just wish I'd gone into this without those expectations. 

Most of the stories the kids tell in the book really pale in comparison to what we get in the series, probably because in the book they are expected to tell a story every night where in the series they rotate with at most two people telling a story in any given night. There are also more major characters in the series than the book, which makes the rotation more necessary. 

I don't know that I'd say you can just skip the book and watch the show instead. You'll get the overall big picture points that way, but enough has been changed that they're almost two different stories. 

Overall I give The Midnight Club 3.7845 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

Amazon

Christopher Pike is a bestselling young adult novelist and has published several adult books as well—Sati and The Season of Passage being the most popular. In YA, his Last Vampire series—often called Thirst—is a big favorite among his fans. Pike was born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in Los Angeles. He lives in Santa Barbara, California, with his longtime partner, Abir. Currently, several of Pike’s books are being turned into films, including The Midnight Club, which Netflix released as part of a ten-part series. The Midnight Club also draws from a half dozen of Pike’s earlier works. Presently, The Season of Passage is being adapted as a feature film by Universal Studios while Chain Letter—one of Pike all-time bestselling books—is also being adapted by Hollywood. At the moment, Pike is hard at work on a new YA series.